MRI versus diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee to evaluate meniscal tears

Abstract

Background This study compares between the results of MRI and diagnostic arthroscopy of the knee to evaluate meniscal tears. Patients and methods A total of 32 patients who had undergone MRI of the knee between March 2018 and May 2020 were selected for the study in whom arthroscopy had also been performed. All knees had been investigated for possible meniscal tears. The MRI results were compared with those of arthroscopy. The arthroscopic results were used as the gold standard to recognize if meniscal tear is present or not. Of the 32 patients, 24 were males and eight were females. The average age was 31 years (range, 22–45 years). Patients who had a discoid lateral meniscus, history of meniscal surgery, or prior surgery on the injured knee were excluded from the study. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated based on arthroscopic findings. Results The time between MRI and arthroscopy was 7–10 weeks (average, 8 weeks). In certain cases, a difference was noted between the MRI and arthroscopic findings for revealing the meniscal tears. False-positive MRI result was found in one (3.1%) patient and false-negative MRI result was found in five (15.6%) patients. The accuracy of MRI in the evaluation of meniscal tears was 90.58%. Conclusions MRI is a noninvasive and exceptionally a sensitive method of investigation that may detect early and slight abnormalities within the menisci. However, MRI is not 100% accurate; if MRI result is reported as negative but the patient keeps complaining of continuing symptoms, then arthroscopy should be considered.