Evaluation of the Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee in Magnetic Resonance Mri: Case Series

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the citation of the ligament in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports and confirm its presence and injury in the images of exams performed in the acute phase retrospectively. Methods: In total, 103 patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in 2019 were included. The images were reanalyzed by two radiologists. Results: In the first analysis, only one report mentioned the anterolateral ligament (ALL) and its injury (0.97%). On reanalysis, ALL was visualized in almost all cases (95% and 97%). An injury was found in 53 (51.5%) cases by radiologist A and in 56 (54.4%) cases by radiologist B. The injury was diagnosed by both in 39 (37.9%) cases (p < 0.0001). Radiologists disagreed regarding the injury (Kappa = 0.411). Conclusion: The reports failed to describe the ligament and diagnose a significant number of injuries. The analysis of conventional resonance images still presents divergences in the diagnosis of ALL injury associated with the ACL among radiologists. Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.