Can Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predict Posterior Drawer Laxity at the Time of Surgery in Patients With Knee Dislocation or Multiple-Ligament Knee Injury?:

Background: Previous studies indicate that isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuries demonstrate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical evidence of healing when treated nonoperatively; however, the authors are unaware of any other study that has looked at whether initial MRI can predict posterior cruciate ligament stability at the time of surgery in patients with knee dislocation.Hypothesis: An MRI grading system will predict laxity on posterior drawer testing at the time of surgery in patients with knee dislocations.Study Design: Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2.Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients with knee dislocation or multiple-ligament knee injury evaluated by MRI were included in the study. An assignment of grade 0 (intact), grade I (injured/fibers intact), grade II (partial tearing of ligament), or grade III (complete tear) was made after each reading on 2 separate occasions by 3 surgeons. Posterior laxity of the knee was graded by the magnitude of excursion on the post...