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Radiographic indicators of acute ligament injuries of the knee: a mechanistic approach

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Abstract

Disruption of a knee ligament is one of the most common entities in patients who present with pain after sustaining trauma to this joint. Occasionally, there are indicators of a ligament injury on initial radiographs. However, close inspection of images is required and knowledge of high-risk areas is imperative in order to render the correct diagnosis. Its importance is that initiation of treatment relies on the accuracy of the initial diagnosis. A high acumen is predicated on the understanding that different mechanisms of injury have specific effects on the structures of the knee. The subtlety of avulsion and impaction fractures on radiographs often belies the significance of these finding. The objective of this review is to provide a mechanistic approach to associate the radiographic abnormalities with their anatomic relevance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Lauren S. Miller

  2. Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University Medical Center, 452 Doan Tower, 395 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Joseph Sekiguchi Yu

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  1. Lauren S. Miller
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  2. Joseph Sekiguchi Yu
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Correspondence to Joseph Sekiguchi Yu.

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Miller, L.S., Yu, J.S. Radiographic indicators of acute ligament injuries of the knee: a mechanistic approach. Emerg Radiol 17, 435–444 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-010-0876-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-010-0876-9

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