Abstract

Background: Injuries to the meniscus and cruciate ligaments of the knee are common and debilitating, leading to significant pain, dysfunction, and long-term complications such as osteoarthritis. Accurate diagnosis is critical for effective management and improved patient outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination, MRI, and arthroscopy in identifying meniscal and cruciate ligament injuries. Methods: This prospective study was conducted over eight months among a total of 36 patients aged 18-60 years with suspected meniscal or cruciate ligament injuries were included. Each patient underwent a thorough clinical examination, MRI, and arthroscopy. MRI scans were performed using a 1.5T MRI scanner and interpreted by a blinded radiologist. Arthroscopy served as the gold standard for diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of MRI were calculated and compared with arthroscopic findings. Results: The study included 31 males (86.1%) and 5 females (13.89%), with a mean age of 28.6 years. MRI demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.0% and specificity of 81.8% for ACL tears, with an accuracy of 88.9%. For PCL tears, MRI showed 100.0% sensitivity and specificity. MRI sensitivity and specificity for medial meniscus tears were 81.8% and 64.0%, respectively, with an accuracy of 69.4%. For lateral meniscus tears, MRI sensitivity was 66.7%, specificity was 86.7%, and accuracy was 83.3%. Conclusion: MRI is a highly sensitive and specific tool for diagnosing ACL and PCL tears but shows moderate sensitivity and lower specificity for medial and lateral meniscus tears. While MRI is valuable for non-invasive diagnosis, it should complement clinical assessment and be interpreted cautiously to avoid misdiagnosis.

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