[Validity and diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging in traumatic menisco-ligamentous pathology of the knee. Prospective study of 22 knees].

Twenty-two patients were prospectively examined by magnetic resonance imaging to determine the diagnostic validity of the method in the assessment of traumatic lesions of the menisci and ligaments of the knee. All the patients had their lesion verified by arthrotomy with or without arthroscopy. The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of lesions of the medial menisci, lateral menisci and cruciate ligaments was respectively 82, 91 and 100 per cent. Its specificity for lesions of the same structures was 92, 100 and 100 per cent. Lesions of the articular cartilage and of the peripheral ligaments were detected with an accuracy of 100 and 95 per cent and a specificity of 100 per cent. Thus magnetic resonance imaging presents a high level of reliability in the detection of ligamentous and cartilaginous lesions. It is less reliable for the detection of meniscal lesions because of the number of false positives and false negatives, which is not negligible. However its demonstrable diagnostic value will increase with improved knowledge of the pathology of imaging and with technical improvements. Its three-dimensional features and the fact that it is totally non-invasive give to this method a great future in the field of the traumatic pathology of the knee. In the steps leading to the diagnosis of meniscal and ligamentous lesions of the knee, magnetic resonance imaging has an interesting place in the field of recent lesions and may avoid the need for hospitalization.