Diagnostic value of multslice spiral CT and MRI in traumatic anterior and posterior cruciate ligament injuries of the knee

Abstract

Background

Multiple knee ligament injuries affecting the medial collateral ligament, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) usually result from high-energy trauma or knee dislocations.

Purpose

To explore the diagnostic value of multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting traumatic ACL/PCL injuries of the knee combined with clinical findings.

Material and Methods

Patients with suspected ACL and PCL injuries underwent both MSCT and MRI. The length, thickness, and angle of the ACL and PCL were measured. Arthroscopy served as the gold standard to assess and compare the diagnostic performance of MSCT and MRI, including their efficacy in grading the severity of ligament injuries.

Results

MRI yielded higher values for ACL length and angle, but lower thickness than MSCT (t = 4.674, 2.340, 2.692; P <0.05). For the PCL, MRI revealed lower values in length, thickness, and angle than MSCT (t = 2.477, 3.359, 2.684; P <0.05). MSCT demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy, while MRI provided superior positive and negative predictive values. Although MSCT had slightly lower sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy than MRI, the differences were not statistically significant (P >0.05).

Conclusion

Both MSCT and MRI are valuable tools for diagnosing traumatic ACL and PCL injuries of the knee. However, MRI offers a modest diagnostic advantage over MSCT, particularly in soft tissue visualization and predictive accuracy.