Ask a doctor on the topic of Orthopedics

MRI findings of the left knee with a request for translation.

May 21, 2015 | 15,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ive Dr. Schaaf

Dear Sir or Madam,

For almost three quarters of a year, I have been experiencing problems with my left knee. Eleven years ago, I tore my cruciate ligament and it was surgically repaired with a cruciate ligament suture. I also had a meniscus tear. I play football myself and train 3-4 times a week. I have already undergone two surgeries on my right knee (cartilage damage and meniscus tear).

As I have been experiencing ongoing issues with my left knee, an MRI was ordered, with the following results:

Normal positioning in the left knee joint. Normal signal intensity of the captured bony structures. Possibly minimal joint effusion. Inhomogeneous signal intensity and slight inhomogeneous narrowing of the cartilage retro patella, with superficial contour irregularities. Only slightly inhomogeneous signal intensity of the cartilage at the medial and lateral knee joint spaces. Both the medial and lateral meniscus show possible beginning mucoid degeneration. Mild degenerative fat infiltration of the anterior cruciate ligament, otherwise well-demarcated.

Assessment:
Chondropathy Grade III retro patella, Grade II at the medial and lateral knee joint spaces. Possibly mild mucoid degeneration of the medial and lateral meniscus. Mild joint effusion.

Can you tell me what to expect or prepare for? Due to my persistent symptoms, is surgery likely necessary again? Possibly with microfracture as was done on my right knee last year?

Sincerely,

Dr. med. Ive Dr. Schaaf

Normal position of the left knee joint. Normal signal intensity of the detected bony structures. Possibly minimal joint effusion.

Inhomogeneous signal intensity and slight homogeneous narrowing of the cartilage behind the patella, also with superficial irregularities in contour.

Only slightly inhomogeneous signal intensity of the cartilage at the medial and lateral knee joint space.

Both the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus show at most incipient mucoide degeneration.

Mild degenerative fattening of the anterior cruciate ligament, which can otherwise be delimited correctly.

Assessment:
Chondropathy grade III behind the patella, grade II at the medial and lateral knee joint space. At most, mild mucoide degeneration of the medial and lateral meniscus. Discreet joint effusion.

What to expect:
The existing changes will likely progress over time, but there is no specific timeframe for this. Whether a reoperation will be recommended depends more on your symptoms than on the MRI findings. Currently, the changes are so minimal that there is a good chance that the symptoms will regress.

Best regards