Cruciate ligaments :
MRI wrong? - - Posted by spartanpele (spartanpele), 20 January 2005
Hey, I know its denail working overtime, but has anyone ever heard of an MRI being wrong? Is it possible the MRI was inconclusive, couldn't show enough, that it was read wrong by the radiologists?
My family doctor did lachemans and thought the acl was sound. But he ordered an MRI anyways to be sure. The MRI came back saying that I tore the acl.
Since then I've been doing ROM and strengenthing exercises I had from the last time I had meniscus surgery. The knee has been feeling better and better.
Yesterday my PT did a very wide variety of tests including Lachemans, Valgus, Varus, Posterior drawer, etc, and he came away with the same thought...inconclusive. He was amazed that after 2 wks from the tear that I could walk almost normal, had good strength, ROM, balance, with minimal pain.
I'll be seeing my ortho dr in 2 weeks, and while I'm ok with the thought of surgery and rehab, I'm just wondering if anyone has had an MRI be wrong...
Thanks!
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 20 January 2005
who determined the ACL was torn? An expereinced OS should be able to show it to you. That's a serious red-light if your MRI is inconclusive.
I have direct experience with the MRI being mis-read by an inexperienced Nurse Assistant and radiologist.
I've had 2 MRI's, both times the OS got it right, they were both knee experts.
Hope this helps.
Posted by spartanpele (spartanpele), 20 January 2005
The radiologist/technicians..reviewed the MRI scans and said that there was an ACL tear.
I haven't met with the ortho surgeon yet.
The first doctor I saw didn't think it was an acl tear.
The physical therapist I saw yesterday thought that the physical exams he did were inconclusive on the acl (he did determine the meniscus tear that was the same as the mri report, and also a 2nd degree sprain of the pcl.) He's very curious to see what the ortho doctor thinks.
I'm meeting with the ortho surgeon in 2 weeks and he will ultimately decide if it is an acl tear or not. He's got over 20 years experience with acl tears, acl reconstruction, etc. So I'll believe him if he thinks its torn.
I haven't seen the mri scans myself, and the ortho surgeon hasn't talked to me about them yet.
Perhaps the bigger question is....whats more accurate, the mri or the physical tests from the doctors?
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 20 January 2005
I'm not a surgeon, but it would be hard to beat a clean MRI to deduce a ligament tear.
The diagnostic test in the right hands is excellent, but, an MRI should be conclusive.
my 2 cents.
Posted by Wookster (Wookster), 20 January 2005
I had an MRI right after I saw my OS for the first time. The MRI results came back saying I'd torn my meniscus, which my OS doubted.
I had a scope which confirmed that my ACL was ruptured, during the scope they removed the torn bits of ligament.
So yeah I guess there are times when an MRI scan can be inconclusive.
Posted by jbluestein (jbluestein), 20 January 2005
let's not confuse ligaments showing damage via MRI and meniscus.
Small meniscus tears seem to be hard to detect, even with MRI. Only a 'scope seems to allow a full view of the damage.
I've got the same problem, small meniscus tear, tough to see on the MRI, my ACL though, that cleary shows a tear. 
Posted by nas (nas), 24 January 2005
I agree with the others...it is very important that you have an experienced orthopedic doctor examine your MRI results. It's not like a drug test that shows up "blue" when the ACL is torn. S/he will need to look at many different cross sections and synthesize the information, which is something that a radiologist/technican will likely be unable to do. It also requires a very extensive understanding of the knee, which is not typically the specialty of the radiologist/technician.
With both of the ortho surgeons I saw for my injury, they used both MRI and physical tests to deduce the torn ACL. They both confirmed each other, and so I would say they're equally important.
Posted by spartanpele (spartanpele), 24 January 2005
Thanks for the info from everyone who wrote...
My family doctor thought there was a meniscus tear, and the acl was fine based on physical tests.
The MRI results (from the radiologist/technician) said there was a meniscus tear and an acl tear.
The PT thought there was a meniscus tear, and the acl physical test was inconclusive. He himself is curious as to what the OS will have to say.
My apptmt next week s/b interesting as I'm really curious as to what the OS will think as far as the acl. I'm already sure about the mensicus having had a similiar injury 5 years ago.
I continue to do rehab (ROM, strengthening, balance), and am maintaining the mental outlook that I'll need some sort of surgery.
If it turns out that its just the meniscus...I'll be jumping (literally) for joy and proceed ahead with that arthoscopy.
But if the OS confirms an acl tear, I'll be a little down, but I can live with that as well... it just means being out of soccer for a while.
I just want solid confirmation and to setup the surgery date...the waiting is killing me. : - )
Posted by missylizzyelucy (missylizzylucy), 25 January 2005
If you're doing well with the rehab, maybe you should talk to your OS about only fixing the meniscus... Kinda the old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"!
I have heard a lot of stories of people who have complete cruciate ligament tears and they just strenthen the leg muscles to compensate. Now, if you're having a ton of instability... that's another story. That's my case (PCL though)... my knee is too unstable, even with the strength I have built up, it's not enough.
If you did decide to put off ACL surgery, and try rehab only, you can always change your mind later. Talk with your OS about all the options! Good Luck!
Lucy
Updated Fri Aug 29 2008