Diagnostic characteristics of physical examination (PE) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting meniscal, ligamentous, and cartilage tears in acute knee pain*
| Test | Characteristic | Sensitivity (95% CI) | Specificity (CI) | +LR | −LR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Diagnostic terms defined in glossary. | |||||
| PE | Medial meniscus | 86% (79 to 92) | 72% (61 to 83) | 3.1 | 0.19 |
| Lateral meniscus | 88% (77 to 99) | 92% (89 to 95) | 11.0 | 0.13 | |
| Anterior cruciate ligament tear | 74% (60 to 88) | 95% (92 to 98) | 15.0 | 0.27 | |
| Posterior cruciate ligament tear | 81% (63 to 98) | 95% (81 to 100) | 16.0 | 0.20 | |
| Cartilage injury | 51% (37 to 65) | 96% (91 to 100) | 13.0 | 0.51 | |
| MRI | Medial meniscus | 89% (83 to 95) | 80% (73 to 87) | 4.5 | 0.14 |
| Lateral meniscus | 79% (73 to 85) | 91% (84 to 98) | 8.7 | 0.23 | |
| Anterior cruciate ligament tear | 87% (83 to 91) | 91% (88 to 94) | 9.6 | 0.14 | |
| Posterior cruciate ligament tear | 75% (65 to 85) | 93% (88 to 98) | 11 | 0.27 | |
| Cartilage injury | 84% (67 to 100) | 90% (85 to 96) | 8.4 | 0.17 | |