The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic efficiency of 0.2 Tesla (T) low field-strength open MRI imaging in the diagnosis of meniscal tears of the knee. 44 knees of 44 patients who had applied to the Orthopedics department with several clinical complaints and physical findings regarding their knees were imaged by a low-field open MR scanner. The results were compared with those obtained from the arthroscopic examinations of the same patients, performed during the first week following their MRI examinations. MRI studies revealed medial meniscal tears in 33 (75 %), and lateral meniscal tears in 10 (22.70 %) cases. Arthroscopy proved medial meniscal tears in 32 (72.70 %), and lateral meniscal tears in 10 (22.70 %) of the cases, respectively. 3 false-positives and 2 false-negatives in the medial meniscal, and 2 false-positives and 2 false-negatives in the lateral meniscal series were detected. The sensitivity values were 93.75 % and 80 %, the specificity values were 75 % and 94.12 %, the accuracy values were 88.63 % and 90.90 %, the positive predictive values were 90.90 % and 80.80 %, and the negative predictive values were 81.81 % and 94.12 %, for the medial and lateral menisci, respectively. Our results have confirmed that low-field open MR scanners may be used effectively and reliably in the diagnosis and evaluation of meniscal tears of the knee.

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