The value of flexion MRI acquisition in detection of meniscal tears

Abstract

Aim: The efficiency of MRI of the flexed knee was studied concerning meniscal lesion staging, existence of tears and meniscocapsulary separation (MCS). Method: In our study with 50 cases, saggital TSE Pd/T2W sequences were acquired in flexion position in addition to routine MRI sequences in neutral position. Subtle or apparent tears and MCSs observed on neutral position acquisitions (NPA) were also evaluated with knee in flexion acquisitions (KFA) in order to evaluate additional diagnostic findings. Statistical evaluation was performed using Chi-square and reliability of medical diagnostic tests. Result: There was no statistically significant difference between NPA and KFA concerning meniscal lesion grading (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between NPA and KFA concerning tears due to signal increase extending to the joint surface. On the other hand, KFA contributed in tears due to MCSs (28,6%). Conclusion: KFA is an applicable method in closed system MR devices, does not disrupt patient comfort and is not time consuming. Using this method, additional information can be acquired with high contrast resolution images. KFA seems to be a superior method to NPA in patients with suspected meniscal tears and especially in cases of MCS. Further studies with extended number of patients will increase the reliability of the results.