Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: MR Imaging Diagnosis with Surgical Implications - Abstract
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important stabilizing structure of the knee, preventing anterior translation and internal rotation of the tibia in relation to the femur. The disruption of ACL may result in impairment in function and the early onset of joint degeneration. Therefore, the accurate and timely diagnosis of ACL injuries is important. MR imaging is an accurate and important tool in diagnosing ACL injuries, and various primary and secondary signs of ACL injury have been reported. It is important to recognize the characteristic imaging findings on MRI and correlate these findings with the mechanism of trauma. ACL injuries may be associated with injuries to other supporting structures of the knee, such as menisci, collateral ligaments, the anterolateral ligament,
and structures of the posterolateral corner. The presence of associated findings may alter the treatment plan, and therefore is important to diagnose them on imaging.