What does discontinuity of a ligament mean?

Primary signs of rupture include a discontinuous ligament or an abnormal course of the ligament, no longer paralleling Blumensaat’s line. 24. With a discontinuous ligament, the fibers may appear wavy or horizontal in orientation (Fig. 7-15A).

Does a partial tear of the ACL require surgery?

ACL injuries can either be complete or partial. While complete ACL tears almost always require surgery, partial ACL tears may be treated effectively with nonsurgical methods. ACL tears are graded by severity and are called sprains (a sprain is a stretch or tear in a ligament).

What is the treatment for a partial ACL tear?

The first line of treatment for ACL injury involves resting, icing, and elevating the leg. An anti-inflammatory medication can also decrease pain and swelling, Dr. Rodeo says. In some cases when people do not require a return to pivoting sports, physical therapy can strengthen the joint without surgery, he explains.

Does MRI show tendon damage?

Changes to ligaments and tendons as a result of disease and injury can be demonstrated using both ultrasound and MRI. These have been validated against surgical and histological findings.

Does CT scan show ligament damage?

A CT scan, or computed tomography, is a series of longitudinal x-rays that create a 3D image of your internal structures. A CT will allow your radiologist to clearly see a ligament tear and identify other soft-tissue injuries, much smaller than a traditional x-ray can reveal.

Is MRI safe?

Many studies have concluded that MRI is one of the safest technologies for imaging the body. The examination causes no pain, and the magnetic field produces no known tissue damage of any kind. When proper safety guidelines are followed, people of all ages can undergo an exam.

What are the imaging signs of a posterolateral bundle tear (ACL)?

ACL tear may only involve one bundle. Imaging signs of isolated posterolateral bundle tear are as follows: gap sign: fluid signal and/or a gap between the medial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle and the lateral aspect of the mid-ACL, can be seen on either axial or coronal MRI images.

How is CTCT used to diagnose anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL)?

CT helps characterize the avulsion bone fragment when it is present. Imaging of anterior cruciate ligament tears should be divided into primary and secondary signs. Primary signs are those that pertain to the ligament itself. Secondary signs are those which are closely related to anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

What is the pathophysiology of a partial ACL tear?

ACL tears typically occur in the middle portion of the ligament (midsubstance tears) and appear as discontinuity of the ligament or abnormal contour. The signal of the ACL can be more hyperintense on T2. If the angle is still normal and there is a hyperintense signal, a partial rupture is more likely than a complete rupture.

What does it mean when an MRI report is normal?

Answer Before going over the entire MRI report, we should start by saying that the MRI report is normal, which means that there are no abnormalities that are visible at the time of the MRI.