[What does the clinician expect from the radiologist regarding cartilage-specific imaging?]

Today's advanced MRI imaging allows for a precise diagnosis and thus better treatment planning of cartilage damage. The phrase "depending on intraoperative findings" is therefore slowly becoming a thing of the past. However, this also increases the demand for an exact interpretation of the imaging, from clinicians and patients alike. This article highlights the importance of a radiologist's role in different constellations.

In the case of acute injuries, it is crucial to recognize osteochondral flakes, cartilage delamination, subchondral bone bruising and fractures as well as concomitant injuries. These findings must be instantly communicated to the practitioner. In the case of chronic cartilage damage, grading the extent and size of the damage is decisive in choosing the appropriate therapy method. Possible causes and accompanying injuries must also be analyzed and, if necessary, addressed. Direct communication with the clinical colleague is also useful in correlating the clinical and radiological findings.