Copyright 988 by The Journal tf Bone and faint Surgery. Incorporated 192 THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY The Accuracy of Selective Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared with the Findings of Arthroscopy of the Knee*t

ABSTRACT: The results of selective magnetic reso-nance imaging of the knee were compared with those of arthroscopy in a prospective series of fifty patients. A specifically designed protocol for imaging, producing Ti sagittal images interleaved at four millimeters while the patient’s foot was in 20 degrees of external rotation, was utilized. This technique, called selective magnetic reso-nance imaging, yielded excellent visualization of the pos-tenor cruciate ligament, medial meniscus, and lateral meniscus in all patients. However, in only 76 per cent of the patients was the anterior cruciate ligament well visualized Compared with arthroscopy, the sensitivity, spec-ificity, and accuracy of selective magnetic resonance im-aging were, respectively, 95.8, 100, and 98 per cent for tears of the medial meniscus; 66.7, 95.1, and 90 per cent for tears of the lateral meniscus; undefined, 100, and ioo per cent for tears of the posterior cruciate ligament; and 100, 96.9, and 97.3 per cent for tears of the anterior cruciate ligament, when that ligament was well visual-ized. Our selective sequence can be performed in fifteen minutes at a cost that is comparable with that of ar-thrography. It is totally non-invasive and requires no exposure to ionizing radiation. Selective magnetic res-onance imaging can be a safe and valuable adjunct to the clinical evaluation of the knee and an aid to efficient preoperative planning. 8No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject ofthis article. Funds were received in total or partial support of the research or clinical study presented in this article. The funding source was the Department o