Current Knee Imaging

Knee pathology is extremely common with a vast array of injury and disease mechanisms. Given its frequency and complexity, it is essential for clinicians and radiologists alike to be familiar with the capabilities of imaging modalities and understand how to effectively communicate their findings to provide diagnoses, staging, interventions, and treatment monitoring for patients. Advances in imaging technology and applications are ever growing, therefore, remaining “current” becomes invaluable when working to ensure patients are receiving the best possible care. The special focus section of this issue of The Journal of Knee Surgery contains five original articles focused on providing a concise overview of current knee imaging. The issue will provide an algorithmic approach for clinically assessing a patient, performing the physical examination, and choosing the appropriate imaging modalities to assist with diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Also, the issue specifically covers imaging modalities focused on ligamentous, tendinous, cartilaginous, and meniscal pathology. Understanding the principles for optimally utilizing imaging modalities to accurately diagnose pathology and evaluate treatment outcomes will be reviewed. Finally, emerging techniques that hold promise for future advances in diagnostic imaging will be briefly discussed. This journal issue is not intended to be an all-inclusive didactic text but is meant to serve as a valuable resource platform based on current recommendations and technology. Clinicians and radiologists can utilize the provided information as a tool for optimizing clinical imaging of the knee, resulting in improved communication with their patients and each other.

We are very honored to have the world's leading experts accept our invitations to author the articles included in this special focus section. It is a humbling experience to work with such an amazing caliber of collaborators and to learn from them through this outstanding collection of articles. We would also like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Leon Lenchik, Professor of Radiology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, for his guidance and efforts when assembling the topics and authors for this special issue. The peer-reviewed articles collected are intended to be high yield, and we hope you find them informative. We hope that this issue serves to provide a conscientious and efficient way to approach imaging of various knee pathologies resulting in improved patient care.