ABSTRACT
Patellar retinaculum and cruciate and collateral ligaments are major passive stabilizers
of the knee joint. Injuries to these ligaments may alter the overall articular motion
and lead to instability. Experienced as a sense of the knee “giving way,” instability
is a predisposing factor for recurring injuries and osteoarthritis. This section presents
a practical imaging approach to knee instability based on a major injury to a specific
ligament, with routine radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging findings discussed
in detail. Common patterns of multiple ligamentous injuries are noted in appropriate
subsections.
KEYWORDS
Knee - ligaments - instability - MR imaging
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Christine B ChungM.D.
Department of Radiology, Veterans Administration Medical Center
3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego, CA 92161
