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Comparative Study
. 2009 Feb;33(1):129-32.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-008-0520-4. Epub 2008 Feb 23.

Clinical, MRI, and arthroscopic correlation in meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament injuries

F Rayan  1 , Sachin Bhonsle, Divyang D Shukla
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Clinical, MRI, and arthroscopic correlation in meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament injuries

F Rayan et al. Int Orthop. 2009 Feb.

Abstract
in English, French

The aim of this prospective study was to compare and correlate clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arthroscopic findings in cases of meniscal tear and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. MRI scan results and clinical diagnosis are compared against the arthroscopic confirmation of the diagnosis. One hundred and thirty-one patients had suspected traumatic meniscal or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Clinical examination had better sensitivity (0.86 vs. 0.76), specificity (0.73 vs. 0.52), predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy in comparison to MRI scan in diagnosis for medial meniscal tears. These parameters showed only marginal difference in lateral meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament injuries. We conclude that carefully performed clinical examination can give equal or better diagnosis of meniscal and ACL injuries in comparison to MRI scan. MRI may be used to rule out such injuries rather than to diagnose them.

Le but de cette étude prospective est d’établir une corrélation clinique entre l’IRM et les constatations arthroscopiques lors de lésions méniscales associées à des lésions du ligament croisé antérieur. Matériel et méthode: les résultats du scanner ont été comparés aux résultats arthroscopiques, 131 patients suspects de lésions méniscales post-traumatiques ou de lésions du ligament croisé antérieur ont été inclus. Résultats : l’examen clinique a une sensitivité de (0,86 v/s 0,76) et une spécificité de (0,73 v/s 0,52) si l’on compare les constatations pré-opératoires avec le diagnostic. Ces paramètres montrent une différence marginale lors de lésion du ménisque latéral et des lésions du ligament croisé antérieur. Conclusion : nous pouvons conclure que l’examen clinique permet de faire un diagnostic équivalent, sinon meilleur, des lésions méniscales et des lésions du ligament croisé antérieur comparé aux examens complémentaires IRM, scanner. L’IRM peut être utilisé pour exclure ces lésions traumatiques plutôt que pour leur diagnostic.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Medial meniscal tears
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Lateral meniscal tears
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Anterior cruciate ligament injuries
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Diagnostic accuracy of clinical vs. MRI evaluation in injuries to lateral meniscus (LM), medial meniscus (MM), and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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