Mucinous ACL Degeneration is Rarely Thought About, a Missing Diagnosis: Case Report
Chadalavada Aravindbabu1, Syed Kareemulla1, Aditya Chadalavada1
1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Amulya Nursing Home, Narasaraopet, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Introduction:
Mucoid degeneration (MD) of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a rare entity affecting the middle-aged people with equal gender predisposition. The enigmatic pathological etiology of MD of ACL has been the subject of numerous ideas, including synovial, traumatic, degenerative, ectopic, changed joint mechanics, etc. correlating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with clinical diagnosis helps in concluding the diagnosis. Arthroscopic debulking of the ACL helps in relieving the pain.
Case Report:
We describe here a woman in her 40s who has been experiencing right knee pain for the past 2 years. Although there are no additional clinical symptoms visible upon examination, there is pain with deep knee flexion. MRI's knee has been taken, and celery stalk appearance has been noticed, as described by Akin. The patient was treated with arthroscopic debulking using conventional arthroscopic portals, and the pain was relieved.
Conclusion:
The diagnosis of MD is assisted by clinical examination and correlating the clinical findings with MRI, as it is typically overlooked. The pain is reduced with arthroscopic debulking.
Insights
Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a rare knee condition. Arthroscopic debulking effectively relieves pain associated with this ACL condition.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Mucoid degeneration (MD) of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a rare condition often affecting middle-aged individuals.
- Its exact pathological etiology remains unclear, with theories including synovial, traumatic, degenerative, and biomechanical factors.
- Accurate diagnosis relies on correlating clinical presentation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.
Observation:
- A case report details a woman in her 40s with a 2-year history of right knee pain, exacerbated by deep flexion.
- Clinical examination revealed no other significant symptoms.
- Knee MRI demonstrated the characteristic "celery stalk appearance" indicative of MD of the ACL.
Findings:
- The patient underwent arthroscopic debulking of the ACL via conventional portals.
- This minimally invasive procedure resulted in significant pain relief.
Implications:
- MD of the ACL can be easily overlooked and requires a combination of clinical assessment and MRI for diagnosis.
- Arthroscopic debulking presents a viable and effective treatment option for alleviating pain in patients with MD of the ACL.
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing specific MRI findings for timely diagnosis and effective management of this rare ACL pathology.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction
01:27Esophageal Achalasia