MR imaging of the knee

This paper determines the frequency and distribution of osseous, ligamentous, and capsular injuries associated with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tearing. Seventy-five patients were imaged with a 1.5-T MR imaging system (Siemens, Islen, N.J.) (3-mm section thickness, sagittal 2,000/30/80 and coronal 1,700/22/60 sequences) within 3 weeks of injury. Of 75 patients with ACL tearing, 85% had occult bone injuries, representative of intrasosseous trabecular disruption in association with edema and hemorrhage. Seventy-one percent had lesions of the lateral compartment, with the lateral femoral condyle being involved in 43% and the lateral tibial plateau injured in 41% of patients