Grading of injury of the collateral ligament of the knee on MRI and ultrasound
Injuries to the medial collateral injury are divided into three grades similarly to other ligamentous lesions elsewhere.
| Grade | Description | Description - MRI | Description - US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade I | microscopic tear or strain injury | edema superficial to the ligament | hypoechoic fluid parallel to the ligament |
| Grade II | partial tear | edema superficial to the ligament extending partially through the ligament | hypoechoic fluid and thickening of the ligament |
| Grade III | complete tear | complete disruption of the ligament (discontinuity) | complete disruption of the ligament with hematoma |
References
1. Rasenberg EIJ, Lemmens JAM, van Kampen A, Schoots F, Bloo HJKC, Wagemakers HPA, et al. Grading medial collateral ligament injury: comparison of MR imaging and instrumented valgus-varus laxity test-device. A prospective double-blind patient study. European Journal of Radiology. 1995 Nov;21(1):18–24.
2. Marincek B, Dondelinger RF. Emergency Radiology: Imaging and Intervention. Springer; 2007:281.
Updated 13/11/2013 21:10 by Lambert