PLICA SYNDROME – A NEGLECTED DIAGNOSIS IN KNEE PAIN

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The Plica syndrome is a neglected diagnosis in knee pain. The purpose of this article is to emphasize the diagnosis of Plica syndrome by MRI knee, which affects the patient management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of MRI knee revealed the diagnosis of Plica syndrome in otherwise reported normal MRI knee. The synovial plica are easily appreciated as low signal bands on sagittal and axial T1 and T2 weighted images at the anatomic locations of knee joint. RESULTS: Out of 737 reported normal MRI knee, five cases revealed thick bands of plica, which in clinical setting of knee pain and trauma, suggested the diagnosis of Synovial Plica syndrome at MRI and confirmed by arthroscopy. CONCLUSION: MRI knee is an easy, non-invasive method to diagnose the synovial plica syndrome, which can affect the patient management and avoiding unnecessary arthroscopy. Key words: Plica syndrome, knee pain, MRI