Indications for The Use of MRI of the Knee

	Suspected meniscal injury. For an algorithm on the use of MRI scanning in suspected acute meniscal injury click here.
	Suspected cruciate or collateral ligament injury.
	Suspected patellar or quadriceps tendon injury and/or muscle tear.
	Suspected retinacular injury and assessment of patella subluxation/dislocation.
	Suspected bony injury not visible on plain radiograph. Suspected stress fracture. Assessment of extent of fractures visible on plain radiograph together with evaluation of associated soft tissue injury.
	Suspected osteochondral fracture.

	Assessment of chondromalacia.
	Early diagnosis and assessment of spontaneous osteonecrosis and osteochondritis dissecans.
	Suspected osteomyelitis.
	Assessment of arthritis and JRA. MRI allows evaluation of articular cartilage thickness, joint effusions, synovial reactions, popliteal cysts and osteonecrosis. Erosions are depicted early. Assessment of extent, progression, and therapeutic response is thus enhanced by MR imaging.
	Assessment of bursal inflammation/rupture.
	Suspected bone or soft tissue tumour.
	Assessment of compartment syndrome.
	Assessment of ACL reconstruction.

MRI is also useful in the diagnosis and assessment of PVNS and haemophilic arthritis.