Mr Evaluation of Mediopatellar Plica

Abstract

Purpose:

Evaluation of the usefulness of MR imaging for diagnosing mediopatellar plica (MP) of the knee joint.

Material and Methods:

We prospectively examined MR images of 40 knee joints in 30 patients with symptoms. The pulse sequences were SE T1-weighted images (600/26 ms), T2-weighted images (1800/70), and FLASH images (320/15/flip angle 90°). When a low-intensity band was found above the medial condyle of the femur on T1-weighted and T2-weighted MR images, we defined it as MP. We compared these MR findings with arthroscopic findings, including the Sakakibara classification of MP.

Results:

In 29 of the 40 knee joints in which MP was arthroscopically found, 27 were correctly diagnosed as having MP on MR. In the remaining 11 without MP, 9 were correctly diagnosed by MR.

Conclusion:

MR images are useful not only for detecting MP but also for evaluating its extension. Our results suggest that MR imaging is useful as a screening method for detecting MP before arthroscopy.