Role of high resolution U/S and MRI in evaluation of meniscal and cruciate ligaments injuries of the knee joint

Abstract

The knee joint is one of the most commonly injured joints in the body. Because of its complex structure, the joint is subjected to numerous pathologies and due to the recent increase in various sport activities; there has been a parallel increase in sport-induced internal dearangements of the knee. Ultrasound is emerging as a viable imaging modality in the diagnosis and assessment of the musculoskeletal system lesions especially in experienced hands. Advantages of ultrasound include it is non-invasive, well accepted by patients, available , the ability to compare easily with the contralateral side, multi planar and dynamic evaluation , as well as its economic advantages. Unlike magnetic resonance imaging ,the patient’s exact point of clinical tenderness can be correlated with underlying anatomical structures and associated pathology. The main strength of knee ultrasound is the assessment of para-articular disease. The specific structures best suited for ultrasound assessment include tendons, muscles and ligaments, as well as peri articular soft tissue masses. Joint effusions, synovial thickening, bursal fluid