J Korean Radiol Soc.  1997 Apr;36(4):697-701.

MR Imaging Diagnosis of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Importance of Ancillary Findings

• Hwang KI
• Lee JH
• Kim YS
• Lee JH
• Ki TS
• Park JO

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the importance of two ancillary findings of anterior tibial plateau bruise/fracture and popliteus muscle strain on MR diagnosis of posterior cruicate ligament injury.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 48 patients with confirmed posterior cruciate ligament tear. We studied the incidence of anterior tibial plateau injury and popliteus muscle strain, and the specificity of popliteus muscle strain with or without bony injury.
RESULTS
A complete tear of the posterior cruciate ligament was noted in 37 cases, a partial tear in 11. Anterior tibial plateau lesion was found in 21 of 48 cases (44%); This total was made up of 17/37 PCL complete tears (46%) and 4/11 partial tears (36%). The difference in the incidence of complete and partial tears is not statisticially significant. Popliteus muscle injury was found in 20 of 48 cases (42%), the total consisted of 19/37 PCL complete tears (51%) and 1/11 partial tears (10%). The incidence of 42% is relatively high, approximating that of bony injury. The difference in the incidence of complete and partial tears is statistically significant (p<0.006). Specificity for posterior cruciate ligament tear is 69% (20/29), and when concomitant with anterior tibial plateua injury is 94% (16/17).
CONCLUSION
As in the case of anterior cruciate ligament injury, these documented ancillary findings of anterior tibial plateau and popliteus muscle injuries are very helpful when MR diagnosis of posterior cruciate ligament injury itself and differentiation of partial and complete rupture are doubtful.

Keyword

Knee, inuries; Knee, MR; Ligaments, injuries

MeSH Terms

Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Diagnosis*
Humans
Incidence
Ligaments
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Posterior Cruciate Ligament*
Retrospective Studies
Rupture
Sensitivity and Specificity