Magnetic resonance characteristics of medial plica of the knee: correlation with arthroscopic resection.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine if there are magnetic resonance (MR) characteristics of the medial plica that correlate with the likelihood of plica resection. METHODS Sixty-six knee MR examinations from patients who underwent subsequent knee arthroscopy were evaluated retrospectively for the presence of a medial plica. The plicae were then characterized by relative width, thickness, relation to the trochlear cartilage, associated cartilage changes, and effusion. The arthroscopy reports from each knee were reviewed for the presence, description, and resection of medial plicae. RESULTS A medial plica was demonstrated by MR in 46 of 66 (69.7%) cases. A medial plica was mentioned in 16 of 66 (24.2%) arthroscopic reports. No MR characteristics were significantly predictive of resection. Location of a plica adjacent to cartilage had a P value of 0.0786, plica width had a P value of 0.0858, and plica thickness had a P value of 0.1685. CONCLUSION No MR characteristics of medial plicae were found to be predictive of subsequent resection at arthroscopy.