Comprehensive Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Detected Knee Ligamentous Injuries and Their Correlation with Outerbridge Classification of Articular Cartilage Degeneration

Abstract

Background:

When assessing knee ligament injuries, magnetic resonance imaging is frequently utilized to determine the extent of damage and associated cartilage degeneration. The Outerbridge rating system is one widely used grading scheme for evaluating cartilage degradation. Therapy and patient outcomes can be enhanced by knowing how knee ligament injuries link to the Outerbridge system.

Objective: To Correlation of knee ligament injury on magnetic resonance imaging with outer bridge system.

Methodology:53 patients in this study had MRI-confirmed knee ligament injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) were all visibly damaged. Those with cartilage degeneration were categorized into grades 0 through IV using the Outerbridge technique. By examining the data, the relationship between ligament injuries and the extent of cartilage damage was assessed.

Results: Out Of the 53 patients, 41 had an ACL injury, which made up 77.35% of the total. PCL injuries came in at 19, MCL injuries at 1, and LCL injuries at 1. There were no patients with Grade IV cartilage degeneration, according to the Outerbridge categorization results; 15 patients had Grade 0, 20 had Grade I, 17 had Grade II, and 8 had Grade III. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the principal cause in 27 cases (50.94%). Higher Outerbridge grades were strongly correlated with the severity of ligament damage, especially in chronic instances.

Conclusion: An effective method for evaluating knee ligament damage and related cartilage degradation is magnetic resonance imaging. The degree of cartilage degeneration, as assessed by the Outerbridge method, was found to be correlated with ligamentous injury. Early identification of cartilage alterations and ligament damage by MRI may provide prompt intervention and enhance knee injury care.