A Prospective Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Clinical Assessment, MRI, And Arthroscopic Findings in Meniscal Tear

Background: These tears of the meniscus are one of the most common intra-articular knee conditions, causing pain, dysfunction and disability. Proper diagnosis is crucial to proper management. The purpose of this study was to prospectively assess and make comparisons between the diagnostic value of the clinical examination, MRI and arthroscopy evaluation in the patient presenting with a suspected meniscal tear. Material and Methods: A prospective study was carried out in patients with clinical presentation suggestive of meniscal injury. After detailed clinical examination and MRI, the patients all had arthroscopy. The sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic (accuracy) accuracy of clinical evaluation and MRI was determined compared to arthroscopic diagnosis. The reference standard was considered to be the findings. Results: Clinical examination proved to be very sensitive but not quite as specific as MRI. MRI was more accurate than other methods in the diagnosis of medial and lateral tears. Arthroscopy confirmed the pitfalls of clinical and radiographic examinations, and emphasized the need for arthroscopy as the ultimate diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Conclusion: Clinical assessment and MRI are useful, non-invasive means of evaluating meniscal tears with MRI having greater overall diagnostic accuracy. But definitive diagnosis and management cannot be achieved without arthroscopy.

Keywords: Meniscal tear, Meniscal injury, Arthroscopy (Gold Standard).