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25-09-2024 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Original Article

Anatomical variants of the medial synovial fold of the posterior cruciate ligament: morphological classification based on magnetic resonance imaging of the knee

Authors: Er Ali, Mustafa Bozdag, Can Doruk Basa, Ismail Eralp Kacmaz, Vadym Zhamilov, Ozge Coskun, Oguzhan Ekizoglu

Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy | Issue 11/2024

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Abstract

Purpose

The medial synovial fold of the posterior cruciate ligament is one of the synovial plicae of the knee joint. The objective of this study was to assess the necessity of reporting the appearance of the medial synovial fold of the posterior cruciate ligament on magnetic resonance imaging of the knee joint and its correlation with side and sex.

Methods

Patients with normal knee structure on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans between 2018 and 2023 were included in this retrospective study. MRI scans of the knee joints were retrospectively reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists independently. The medial synovial fold of the posterior cruciate ligament was divided into three types according to the imaginary line drawn between the lateral border of the medial femoral condyle and the medial tibial intercondylar tubercle.

Results

The study included 1147 patients, of whom 478 (41.7%) were female and 669 (58.3%) were male. Among these patients, 580 (50.6%) had a right knee scan, and 567 (49.4%) had a left knee scan. The age range was 15–35 years for both sexes. The frequency of the medial synovial fold types in all patients was as follows: Type A (30.1%), Type B (55.4%) and Type C (14.5%). There was a high level of agreement between the observers. There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of medial synovial fold types between sexes, with men exhibiting a greater prevalence.

Conclusion

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee joint revealed the medial synovial folds of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The most common was Type B (55.4%), followed by Type A (30.1%) and Type C (14.5%) among the MSF types. No statistically significant difference was found between the right and left knees for any of the MSF types.
Literature
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go back to reference Chawulk A, Ciszek B (2009) Anatomy of the cruciate ligament. Folia Morphol 68(1):8–12 Chawulk A, Ciszek B (2009) Anatomy of the cruciate ligament. Folia Morphol 68(1):8–12
Metadata
Title
Anatomical variants of the medial synovial fold of the posterior cruciate ligament: morphological classification based on magnetic resonance imaging of the knee
Authors
Er Ali
Mustafa Bozdag
Can Doruk Basa
Ismail Eralp Kacmaz
Vadym Zhamilov
Ozge Coskun
Oguzhan Ekizoglu
Publication date
25-09-2024
Publisher
Springer Paris
Published in
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy / Issue 11/2024
Print ISSN: 0930-1038
Electronic ISSN: 1279-8517
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-024-03487-7

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