Evaluation of Traumatic Knee and Shoulder Joint Ligaments with MRI among Adult Sudanese Patients

Abstract

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently regarded as the reference standard for the diagnosis and evaluation of internal derangements of the knee and shoulder girdle. This study aimed to evaluate traumatic injuries of the knee and shoulder joint ligaments by MRI and classify the most common ligament injuries. Methods and Results: This study included 50 patients, who were presented in the Radiology Department of Modern Medical Center in Khartoum, in the period from October 2019 to January 2020. The sample was divided into two groups: shoulder joint group (Group 1, n=30) with an age range between 16 and 74 years and knee joint group (Group 2, n=20) with an age range between 16 and 77 years. The age group most affected with shoulder (46.7%) and knee joint (25%) injuries was 46-65 years. The injuries of the shoulder (40%) and knee joints (55%) were common in patients with body weight ranging from 71-80kg and >81kg, respectively. Different grades of partial meniscus tear of both shoulder and knee joints were noted as Grades 1 and 2 in 8.7% of cases, Grade 2 - 13%, Grades 2 and 3 - 34.8%, and Grade 3 - 30.4%. There were incidences of 27.3%, 0%, 54.5%, 15.20, 0%, and 3% for anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial meniscus C-shape (M Me C), lateral meniscus C-shape (L Me C), MCL, and LCL tears in the knee joints of the affected patients. Conclusion: MRI revealed that injuries to the shoulder and knee joints were common in patients with body weight ranging from 71-80kg and >81kg, respectively. Different grades of partial meniscus tear of the shoulder and knee joints were noted though Grades 2 and 3 partial tears were the most common finding. Finally, it was noted that in the knee joints of the affected patients, the M Me C shaped tear was the major type of tear.