MR Findings of Chronic PCL Tear of the Knee Joint: Comparison of Acute and Chronic PCL Tears.

PURPOSE: Chronic PCL tear is a type of injury that remained untreated in a significant period after trauma. It sometimes is overlooked on physical examination or MRI due to fibrosis or synovialization along the ligament. The purpose of this study is to describe the imaging findings characterizing chronic PCL injury, in contrast to the acute PCL injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 37 MRI of PCL injury cases from two institutes, acute tears were in 19 cases, and chronic tears were in 18 cases. All cases were proven surgically. We defined chronicity of PCL injury as 2 months when the synovialization is generally matured. Age was variable from 14 to 61 years old, and male:female ratio was 33:4. We observed discontinuity, attenuation, and signal increase of PCL fibers. We also examined the clarity of the border of the PCLs, periligament signal changes, angulation deformities, wavy appearances and periligamentousedema. Associated injuries and sensitivity of the interpretation were also checked. RESULTS: Attenuation of the PCL was seen in 78.8% of chronic tears, and only in 5.3% of acute tears (p<0.005). Periligamentous abnormal signal intensity was noted in 83.3% of chronic tears, and in 5.3% of acute tears (p<0.005). These findings are characteristic features of chronic PCL tears MRI findings. Signal increase of PCL was noted in 44.4% of chronic tears, and in 100% of acute tears. Border of the PCL was indistinct in 27.8% of chronic tears, and in 84.2% of acute tears. Wavy appearances and periligamentous edema were seen in 16.7% (both) of chronic tears and in 57.9%, 78.9% of acute tears. Discontinuity of the fibers, angulationdeformities are not the characteristic features of the acute and chronic PCL tears. There was no specific associated injury of the chronic PCL tears, and there was no more number of associated injuries in chronic tears cases. Sensitivity of routine interpretation was 83.3% in the chronic PCL tears, and 93.3% in acute PCL tears. CONCLUSION: Chronic PCL tear is characterized by attenuation of the fibers, periligamentous abnormal signal change. Distinct border and normal dark signal intensity of the PCL are the negative evidence of the acute stage.

Author dc:creator

• 전, 경식

Contributors dc:contributor

• 조, 재현
• 대학원 의학과
• 104515

• 후방 십자 인대 파열
• 자기 공명 영상
• 급성과 만성 병변

Language dc:language

ko

Identifier

http://dcoll.ajou.ac.kr:9080/dcollection/jsp/common/DcLoOrgPer.jsp?sItemId=000000000766
000000000766

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.ajou.ac.kr:201003/1508