J Korean Radiol Soc.  1995 May;32(5):813-817.

Acute Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament:Analysis of the Tear Site and the Degree Using MR Imaging

• Kim EJ
• Yoon Y
• Ryu KN
• Ahn JW
• Jin U

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the sensitivity of MR imaging in determining tear sites and degrees in acute anterior cruciate ligament tear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
MR imagings were undertaken in 19 patients who had trauma on their knee joints. All imaging studies were performed within 2 weeks after trauma and compared with operative findings. The degrees of ligament tear were divided into complete and incomplete, and sites of tears were divided into superior middle and inferior portions. MR findings were compared with operative findings.
RESULTS
There were 14 cases of complete ligament tear and 5 cases of partial ligament tear. We could diagnose correctly in all 14 cases with complete tear and in 3 of 5 cases with partial tear. The tear sites were correctly predicted in 10 of 14 cases with complete tear(71%) and 1 of 5 cases with par In complete tears, MR findings were transversely or obliquely coursed band-like high signal intensity within the ACL or abrupt Switch over to as indistinct signal intensity. In partial tears, the tear sites could not be evaluated mostly and the tear appeared as linear low signal intensity lesions in posterolateral bundles of AC/.
CONCLUSIONS
MR revealed higher sensitivity in determining the degree and sites of ACL tear in complete tear as compared with partial tear.

MeSH Terms

Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Humans
Knee Joint
Ligaments
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*