Imaging evaluation of the multiligament injured knee

Abstract

Knee dislocation (KD) is an uncommon and complex injury with potentially limb threatening outcome. Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) rarely occurs in isolation and is often part of a multiligamentous knee injury. There is a growing interest in the diagnosis and treatment of injury to the secondary supporting structures of the knee. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is invaluable for evaluating the knee joint and its peripheral corners. Therefore, detailed knowledge of the normal MRI knee anatomy and the patterns of injury are crucial for the correct diagnosis and appropriate management of KD. As low impact KD often resolve spontaneously, the radiologists can be the first to consider the diagnosis of KD in a patient. In this article, we will focus on the MRI assessment of the normal and injured knee with emphasis on the peripheral corners. For detailed anatomic illustration we will use high resolution turbo spin echo MRI.