Correlation between Clinical Examination, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Arthroscopy in Meniscal Injuries of the Knee: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: In comparison to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging, this study compares the diagnostic efficacy of meniscal injury with clinical examination tests such the McMurray’s test, Thessaly test, and joint line tenderness. Methodology: Two hundred and fifteen patients having a history of knee injuries with symptoms such as pain, instability, and locking were studied from June 2020 to June 2022 at our institution, for a 2-year period. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of McMurray’s test for medial meniscus were 84% and 84.21%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for medial joint line tenderness were 88.15% and 55.55%, respectively. Thessaly’s test for the medial meniscus was 92.10% sensitive and 88.8% specific. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for medial meniscal injury were 94.87% and 93.75%, respectively. McMurray’s test for lateral meniscus had a sensitivity of 84.44% and a specificity of 76.92%. Lateral joint line tenderness for lateral meniscus had a sensitivity of 86.95% and a specificity of 66.66%. The sensitivity and specificity of Thessaly’s test for lateral meniscus were 93.33% and 84.61%, respectively. MRI revealed a sensitivity of 93.75% and a specificity of 90% for lateral meniscus injuries. Conclusion: Even though MRI is a precise and noninvasive method for detecting meniscal injuries, a thorough clinical examination by a skilled physician has the same diagnostic power as MRI to rule out meniscal injuries. In contrast to previous tests, the Thessaly test can be used as a useful tool to detect meniscal injuries, as we discovered in our study.