MRI Observation Of Transverse Geniculate Ligament And Meniscofemoral Ligament,and Its Clinical Significance

Objective:To determine MRI manifestations of the normal Transverse Geniculate Ligament (TGL) and Meniscofemoral Ligament (MFL), to establish a method for the identification of the false and true tear of the lateral meniscus, and to provide the basis for differentiating pseudotears from the true tear of the lateral meniscus of preoperative.Methods:Retrospective analysis the radiographic data of 101 patients due to osteoarthritis, sports injury, synovitis and infection with knee joint in the Department of Orthopedics of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from August 2014 to August 2015, and all of patients underwent MRI examination of the knee joint with meniscus true tear were excluded by arthroscopic.There were 60 males and 41 females with an average age of 42 (18-75) years. Multiple sequence and plane of MR scan were performed to observe the imaging anatomical features of TGL and MFL, and the visualization rate of the pseudotears sign. Application of chi square test on the gender and sides of the pseudotears sign rate.Results:In MRI sagittal image, Adipose tissue forms a line like high signal fracture between the central tendon of the attachment of MFL or TGL and the anterior or posterior horn of the lateral meniscus,which is called the pseudotear sign of lateral meniscus anterior and posterior horn. In the group of 101 cases examined the knee joint, the occurrence rate of TGL was 67.3%(68/101) on MRI, which has 2 cases were easily misdiagnosed as pseudotear sign in the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus, the visualization rate of" pseudotear sign " was 2.9%(2/68) in the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus caused by TGL. The total occurrence rate of MFL was 91.1%(92/101) on MRI. The occurrence rate of HL was 13.9%(14/101), which has 1 cases was easily misdiagnosed as pseudotear sign in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, the visualization rate of " pseudotear sign " was 7.1%(1/14) in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus caused by HL. The occurrence rate of WL was 77.2%(78/ 101),which has 16 cases were easily misdiagnosed as pseudotear sign in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, the visualization rate of" pseudotear sign " was 20.5%(16/78) in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus caused by WL.There was no significant difference of direction and position of the lateral meniscus in different gender and sides (all P values> 0.05)Conclusion:According to the morphology, the direction of TGL and MFL on MRI, to the direction and position of pseudotear sign of the lateral meniscus, and combined with the sagittal and coronal planes were observed, It can effectively identify the true and false tear of the anterior and posterior horns of the lateral meniscus,to reduce the unnecessary surgical treatment.