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Is The Knee Injury? An Invasive Or Expensive Procedure? Essay

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Discussion

Christopher et al , 2008 stated that the knee is the largest joint in the body and is a relatively unstable and intricate joint with numerous tendinous, ligamentous, and meniscal attachments, which makes it particularly vulnerable to complex injuries after trauma. ( 85 ) Until the last decade, diagnostic arthroscopy was the only possible way to clarify a doubtful diagnosis. Unfortunately, it is an invasive and expensive procedure, and its overuse has produced unnecessary comp-lications, such as infection, neurovascular lesions and damaged intra-articular materials. ( 86 ) It is preferably performed only for treatment purposes, provided that alternative non invasive diagnostic modalities such as MRI are available. ( 87 )

Clinical examination may be difficult in acute injury and is inconclusive in cases with injuries of multiple ligaments/menisci. ( 73 ) Injuries to the knee resulting from acute trauma can occasionally limit full extension of the knee, due to swelling, and muscle spasm. ( 87 )

Currently MRI is gaining popularity as a diagnostic tool in knee injuries due to increasing sports injuries and road traffic accidents. The single most common indication of performing a knee MRI is to diagnose internal derangements in an injured knee. ( 73 )

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the diagnostic value of MRI in diagnosing the presence or absence of the most common injuries of the knee; the meniscus tears, the

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