Update On My Knee

I met with the doctor this morning.  Good news!  I will not need surgery, and I don't have a meniscus tear.  I have a severely bruised femoral condyle and a mild MCL sprain.  Doc wants me on crutches for 3 weeks (no weight bearing at all) and that should improve things.

The long version from the radiology folks:

Findings:

The menisci are normal in morphology and signal without tear.

There is moderate edema along the MCL consistent with reactive medial jointline edema or moderate MCL sprain.  The anterior cruciate ligament is normal in appearance.  The fibular collateral ligament appears normal.  The PCL, biceps femoris, iliotibial band, popliteus tendon and posterolateral capsular appear normal.  The quadriceps and patellar tendons are unremarkable.

The patella is properly located in the trochlear groove.  There is a small joint effusion.  There is near full-thickness cartilage fissuring of the medial patellar faced over a small 4 mm x 5 mm area seen on axial image 8.  There is a large amount of abnormal increased proton density signal intensity and decreased T1 signal intensity in the medial femoral condyle emanating from the central weight-bearing region of the medial femoral condyle.  No linear or impacted fracture is seen at this time.  Remaining bone marrow signal intensity is normal.

No Baker's cyst is seen.  No ganglion cyst or soft tissue mass is seen surrounding the knee.

CONCLUSION:

1. There is a severe bone contusion of the medial femoral condyle with some mild sclerosis along the central weight-bearing region of the medial femoral condyle.  No linear or impacted subchondral fracture is seen and no overlying osteochondral defect is identified.  No specific features of avascular necrosis are seen at this time. Follow up MRI may prove useful in 4-6 seeks to reassess for improvement if there are persistent or worsening clinical concerns.

2. Moderate grade II MCL sprain vs. reactive medial jointline edema.

3. There is no evidence of meniscal tear or cruciate ligament injury.

4. Focal grade III chondromalacia patella.