Radiological diagnostics of meniscal tears of the knee

Aim and objectives: The aim was to evaluate radiological diagnostic capabilities diagnosing meniscal tears of the knee joint. To achieve this objective we needed to solve the following tasks: 1. To asses the most common radiological tests in diagnosing meniscal lesions of the knee joint. 2. To compare the data of radiological tests. 3. To compare radiological data with “gold standart” – arthroscopy and evaluate correlation of the results. Participants and methods: This study included 165 patients, who underwent arthroscopic surgery in LSMU KK Orthopaedics and Traumatology unit during 2015 year due to clinicaly and radiologicaly suspected meniscal tears. Information about the patients was collected from patients medical records in LSMU KK archive and operation books from Orthopaedics and Traumatology unit. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS 22.0 statistical package. Statistical significance was rated by chi square (χ2) criteria. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Conclusions were made on basis of the level of confidence for 0,95, when p < 0,05. Results: Age of patients, who were clinically and radiological suspected with meniscus tears before the arthroscopy, was between 17 and 83 years. There were 82 men (49,7%) and 83 women (50,3%). 55 (33,3%) patients had pain of the right knee and 110 (66,7%) – of the left knee. Ultrasound was performed in 64 cases (38,8%), CT scan – in 97 cases (58,8%). X – ray in diagnosing meniscal tears was uninformative. Tear of medial meniscus (79,39%) was diagnosed more often than tear of lateral meniscus (16,36%). Ultrasound sensitivity, compared to CT scan, in diagnosing medial meniscus tears was 80% and 100% specificity. Sensitivity and specificity of CT scan in diagnosing medial meniscus, compared to the “gold standard” arthroscopy were 93% and 67%, and in diagnosing lateral meniscus tears – 29% and 87%. Ultrasound sensitivity specificity in diagnosing tears of medial meniscus, compared to “gold standard” arthroscopy was 96,1% and 0%. Conclusions: 1. The most common radiological tests in diagnosing meniscal lesions of the knee joint are x – ray, ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan. 2. Comparing radiological tests, it was found that x – ray is the least informative in diagnosing meniscal lesions of the knee joint and CT scan was the most informative test (a statistically significant result was obtained (p