Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Functional Ultrasonography in Diagnosing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury as Compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Indian Journal of Orthopaedics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been gold standard investigation for diagnosing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Availability and cost are two main factors limiting the universal use of MRI in all those patients in whom ligament injury is suspected. We compared the outcome of functional USG with gold standard MRI scan in this prospective study.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we included the patients coming to orthopedics outpatient department with sign and symptoms of ACL injury. We performed functional USG of the injured and uninjured knee and noted the difference in translation, measured by USG. More than 1 mm of difference in translation of tibia on the affected side as compared to uninjured side is taken as significant. We compared our result with the findings of MRI. The study result of 130 patients revealed high sensitivity (81.65%) and high specificity (89%) in diagnosing ACL injury. The positive predictive value of the test was 97.8%, and the negative predictive value was 44%. The P value of the difference of translation as 0.0001 was also statistically significant.

Conclusions

We can safely conclude from the study that the functional USG can be used as a primary tool to diagnose ACL tears. USG’s ubiquitous availability and simple technique of the procedure can bring a revolution in the future for diagnosing and managing ACL injury.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Friemert B, Oberländer Y, Schwarz W, Häberle HJ, Bähren W, Gerngross H, et al. Diagnosis of chondral lesions of the knee joint: Can MRI replace arthroscopy? A prospective study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2004;12:58–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Khan Z, Faruqui Z, Ogyunbiyi O, Rosset G, Iqbal J. Ultrasound assessment of internal derangement of the knee. Acta Orthop Belg 2006;72:72–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Palm HG, Bergenthal G, Ehry P, Schwarz W, Schmidt R, Friemert B, et al. Functional ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute anterior cruciate ligament injuries: A field study. Knee 2009;16:441–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Friedman L, Finlay K, Jurriaans E. Ultrasound of the knee. Skeletal Radiol 2001;30:361–77.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bouffard JA, Dhanju J. Ultrasonography of the knee. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 1998;2:245–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Court-Payen M. Sonography of the knee: Intraarticular pathology. J Clin Ultrasound 2004;32:481–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Delaunoy I, Feipel V, Appelboom T, Hauzeur JP. Sonography detection threshold for knee effusion. Clin Rheumatol 2003;22:391–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hauzeur JP, Mathy L, De Maertelaer V. Comparison between clinical evaluation and ultrasonography in detecting hydrarthrosis of the knee. J Rheumatol 1999;26:2681–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Suzuki S, Kasahara K, Futami T, Iwasaki R, Ueo T, Yamamuro T, et al. Ultrasound diagnosis of pathology of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of the knee joint. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 1991;110:200–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ptasznik R, Feller J, Bartlett J, Fitt G, Mitchell A, Hennessy O, et al. The value of sonography in the diagnosis of traumatic rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1995;164:1461–3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hawe W. The S shape of the posterior cruciate ligament in the sonogram. Prakt Sport Traumatol Sportmed 1990;2:7–8.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Schricker T, Hien NM, Wirth CJ. Clinical results of sonographic functional studies of lesions of the capsule and ligaments of the knee and ankle joint. Ultraschall Med 1987;8:27–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chylarecki C, Hierholzer G, Tabertshofer H. Sonographic features of fresh rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Unfallchirurgie 1995;21:109–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Schwarz W, Hagelstein J, Minholz R, Schierlinger M, Danz B, Gerngross H, et al. Manual ultrasound of the knee joint. A general practice method for diagnosis of fresh rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Unfallchirurg 1997;100:280–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Gebhard F, Authenrieth M, Strecker W, Kinzl L, Hehl G. Ultrasound evaluation of gravity induced anterior drawer following anterior cruciate ligament lesion. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 1999;7:166–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India

    Sudeep Kumar, Anup Kumar, Subhash Kumar & Prem Kumar

Authors
  1. Sudeep Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anup Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Subhash Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Prem Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sudeep Kumar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kumar, S., Kumar, A., Kumar, S. et al. Functional Ultrasonography in Diagnosing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury as Compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging. IJOO 52, 638–644 (2018). https://doi.org/10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_28_17

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_28_17

Keywords

MeSH terms

Search

Navigation