Additional Anterior Cruciate Ligament MRI Examination Protocols: a Standard of Diagnosis or a Whim of Researchers? (Review)

Abstract

Summary. Standard MRI protocols of the knee joint in case of suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury involve tomography in three mutually perpendicular planes – coronal, sagittal, and axial. Modern methods of treatment (especially refixation of the ACL and reconstruction of separate ACL bundles) and rehabilitation require more accurate diagnosis not only of the fact of injury, but also its clear location, degree and term. It is especially difficult to assess the nature and extent of ACL damage in the acute period and in cases of partial injury. Therefore, we propose to introduce into the standard of ACL MRI examination the additional use of oblique sagittal and oblique coronal sequences (images) oriented at an angle of ACL fibers with reduced to 0-2 mm interslice interval to improve the diagnosis of ACL injury. To reduce the duration of the study, it is possible to limit yourself to a small number of slices (images) in additional projections only in the area of the ACL.