Allanah Barker MBBCh, MRCS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Andoni Paul Toms FRCR, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of the exhibit is to: • Illustrate the spectrum of appearances of partial thickness ACL tears using pictorial examples. The ACL is a common site of injury both in the general population and in elite athletes. Use of 3T MRI imaging with its superior spatial resolution enables improved recognition of partial ACL tears. • Review the mechanisms of injury that may result in this type of tear. Tears of the different ACL bundles arise from separate and specific mechanisms of injury. • Emphasise key findings affecting patient management: Early recognition of such tears can be difficult, but familiarity with the imaging features allows accurate image interpretation.

• Pictorial review of the ACL using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Normal structure and function of the anteromedial (AMB) and posterolateral bundles (PLB) of the ligament in terms of the biomechanics of the knee and the influence of anatomical shape of the femoral condylar notch. • Pictorial illustration of isolated AMB and PLB tears and the common mechanisms of injury that lead to each, including characteristic flexion/extension and rotation injuries. • Pitfalls in imaging, including identifying normal anatomical variants such as the infrapatella plica, the anteromedial meniscofemoral ligament and the triple bundle ACL

http://abstract.rsna.org/uploads/2014/14014940/14014940_ezjl.pdf

Barker, A, Toms, A, Partial Thickness Tears of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL): Mechanism, Biomechanics and Imaging Appearances.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14014940.html