A Retrospective Study of the Accuracy of MRI in Diagnosing Meniscal Tears, Including Sensitivity, Specificity, and Correlation with Arthroscopic Findings

Abstract

Background: Meniscal tears are one of the most common internal derangements of the knee joint, and a major source of pain, swelling, locking and functional limitation. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive examination commonly used to help assess meniscal injury, and arthroscopy is the definitive test. Determination of the accuracy of diagnosis by MRI is crucial for optimizing management of the patient and minimising invasive procedures. Methods: The study was a retrospective observational study carried out in the departments of Orthopaedics and Radiology of Patna Medical College & Hospital (PMCH) from May 2025 to November 2025. The study included a total of 94 patients with suspected meniscal injuries who had both MRI and arthroscopy. Comparisons were made between findings on MRI and arthroscopic findings, and diagnostic parameters were computed, such as sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV), and overall accuracy. Results: MRI had high sensitivity and good diagnostic accuracy for the identification of meniscal tears. Medial meniscal tears were more common than lateral meniscal tears. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and overall accuracy of MRI were found to be 93.9%, 45.5%, 92.9%, 50.0%, and 88.3%, respectively. There was a strong correlation between MRI findings and arthroscopic findings. Conclusion: MRI is a useful, non-invasive imaging technique that is accurate and helpful for diagnosing meniscal tears, and is a valuable aid in the preoperative evaluation. But the gold standard in the definitive diagnosis and management of meniscal injury is still arthroscopy.