Correlation between MRI and Arthroscopic Findings in Internal Derangement of Knee Joint – A Prospective Study (Code-T0281)

Introduction: Internal derangement of the knee joint (IDK) is a common pathology affecting knee stability and function, often resulting from trauma. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management, with MRI being a widely used non-invasive imaging modality and arthroscopy serving as the gold standard.

Aims and Objectives:

• To study and compare/correlate the MRI and arthroscopic findings in an internally deranged knee joint.
• The objective is to determine the precision, sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and p-value by contrasting the results of MRI scans with the findings from the arthroscopic examination of a knee joint with internal damage.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 35 patients diagnosed with IDK at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MMIMSR), Mullana, Ambala. All patients underwent clinical evaluation followed by MRI and diagnostic arthroscopy. Intraoperative findings were documented and compared with MRI results to determine diagnostic accuracy.

Results: The most commonly injured structure was the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), followed by the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus. MRI demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting ACL and meniscal injuries but had limitations in detecting partial or complex tears. Arthroscopy confirmed MRI findings in most cases, with discrepancies primarily observed in meniscal lesions.

Conclusion: MRI is a reliable, non-invasive tool for diagnosing internal knee injuries and should be used as an initial investigation. However, arthroscopy remains the definitive diagnostic modality, particularly for ambiguous cases. A combined approach ensures optimal management of IDK.

Keywords: Internal derangement, MRI, Arthroscopy, Knee joint, ACL injury, Meniscal tear.