MRI FINDINGS IN FUNCTIONALLY IMPAIRED KNEES: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

Abstract

Background: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive, non-ionizing imaging modality with excellent soft tissue resolution capable of depicting the internally deranged structures within the knee Joint (KJ) in multiple planes. The aim of this study is to highlight the role of MRI in the diagnosis of certain disease entities from various etiologies which would have been difficult to accomplish using the more available imaging modalities in our resource poor environment.
Method: This is a cross-sectional observational study of knee MRI. All patients presented with functional knee impairment indicated by the requesting physician. T1 and T2 weighted images, proton density weighted (PDW) and fat saturated images were acquired in the axial, sagittal and coronal planes using the flexi coil of a 1.5 Tesla Elan Vantage Toshiba MRI machine.
Result: Eighteen patients made up of 8 males (44.4%) and 10 females (55.6%) with functional knee impairment did knee MRI during the period of the study. They had various indications including; persistent and increasing knee pain (n = 10, 55.6%); trauma to knee (n = 5, 27.8%) and knee swelling (n=3, 16.7%). Imaging findings include neoplastic condition in 5 (27.8%), complex ligamental and menisci tears in 4 (22.2%), moderate to severe osteoarthritis in 22.2% (n = 4) and mild osteoarthritis in 3 (16.7%). Two others (11.2%) had normal knee joints.
Conclusion: MRI with its high soft tissue resolution is a powerful tool for assessing functionally impaired knees. Bone and joint space related injuries were the most common pathologies encountered in this study.