I was just wondering if any Dr. could explain this in simple terms for me? I just received my packet of photos and Dr. report for my MRI I had on my Knee, calf, and ankle. I have now been sent to an orthopedic surgeon, but I have to wait to get into him. I am just curious if this is going to be bad enough to were I will have to have surgery, or if they will just do physical therapy. I can not understand a lot of the MRI results. Can anyone help?
Findings: The examination is abnormal with at least moderate ankle joint effusion. There is some focal thickening and signal heterogeneity within the posterior talofibular ligament and to a similar extend within the calcaneofibular ligament suggesting ligametous sprain. The abnormal signal within the calcaneofibular ligament would be difficult to exclude. The anterior talofibular ligament remains intact.
The peroneal tendons to the extent that they are visualized and included in the study are unremarkable. The achilles tendon is intact. The flexor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior are intact and normal in signal. The flexor hallucis longus is intact as well but demonstrates diffuse fluid signal intensity surrounding the tendon at the level of the ankle joint. This suggest flexor hallucis longus tenosynovitis although a component may be related to the large joint effusion.
The plantar fascia is unremarkable. The marrow signal is within normal limits. The talofibular, calcaneocuboid and mid tarsal joints are remarkable.
impression: Ankle joint effusion with abnormal signal within the posterior talofibular ligament and calcaneofibular ligament suggesting at least ligamentous sprain, possibly partial thickness intrasubstance tear involving the calcaneofibular ligament.
The anterior talofibular ligament is intact.
Probable flexor hallucis longus tenosynovitis although at least a component of the fluid intensity signal surrounding the flexor hallucis longus tendon maybe related to the ankle joint effusion.
The knee just says…There is knee joint effusion. The tibia and fibular are normal in appearance. The adjacent myofascial planes are unremarkable through the distal calf.
Sorry I know this is a lot, I am just wanting to know what the outcome maybe so that I can have an idea on work, and school, and a possible co op opportunity I am suppose to be working on for school very soon. Any serious information will be helpful.
Thank you!
There are no catastrophic findings on this MRI report…but several sprained ligaments are demonstrated. There are no tears other than a partial tear in one ligament between your heel bone and fibula (which isn’t too serious).
I would imagine you are in for some anti-inflammatories, possibly for some immobilization of the ankle depending on the degree of sprain, followed by physical therapy.