Sports-related injuries of the knee: An approach to MRI interpretation

Knee injuries are common at all levels of sporting activities, ranging from minor to severe. Studies indicate that MRI is a reliable and cost-effective diagnostic tool in evaluating the extent of acute knee injury. A systematic approach to the assessment of key structures, including bone, cartilage, menisci, and ligaments requires detailed knowledge of normal anatomy and anatomic variants, as well as the expected MRI appearance of injury. In addition, recognizing mechanism-based injury patterns can help in recognizing the complete extent of most complex knee injuries.