MRI Assessment of Painful Knee Joint in Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai, Tamil Nadu: A Cross- Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Knee joint is the most important weight bearing joint capable of performing complex and extensive movements. It is therefore more frequently affected by the traumatic and degenerative conditions. MRI remains the imaging modality of choice for knee joint pathology. It is a non-invasive investigation and provides complete information. Hence, the aim of the present study was to assess the non-osseous knee joint abnormality and to evaluate the incidence of pathology associated with each ligament and meniscus separately. Material and methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study which was conducted in the Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology of Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It was done among 89 subjects after getting approval from ethical and scientific committee of the hospital from March 2015 to December 2015. The patients who were referred with clinical suspicion of knee joint pathologies and with history of pain in the knee with or without swelling where MRI is used as a modality in diagnosing the cause. Results: In the present study, joint effusion was present in 83.1% of the cases and was absent in 16.9% of the cases. The meniscal type of tear was present clinically in 46.1% cases and 34.8% subjects confirmed the meniscal type of tear by MRI. Anterior cruciate ligament tear was seen clinically in 59.6% cases and 39.3% through MRI whereas posterior cruciate ligament tear was observed 5.6% cases clinically and in 5.6% with the help of MRI. Medial collateral ligament tear was clinically seen in 4.5% cases and in 12% cases through MRI whereas lateral collateral ligament tear was observed in 19.1% cases clinically and in 15.7% cases through MRI. Conclusion: Out of the various imaging modalities available to evaluate knee joint, MRI has become the gold standard imaging for evaluating the knee joint pathology. With the use of surface coils it is possible to obtain high resolution images of various ligaments and menisci.