[Sonographic imaging of the anterior cruciate ligament].

At the present time the cruciate ligaments can be demonstrated only via CT and arthroscopy. The typical clinical ligament signs (anterior and posterior drawer sign) cannot always be provoked. Especially in older ruptures the uncharacteristic knee pain and the feeling of instability are the most prominent symptoms. Experimentally the anterior cruciate ligament is well demonstrable via sonography both ventrally and dorsally, using a knee ligament preparation. In the patient, however, the anterior cruciate ligament can often be seen sonographically only in ventral longitudinal sections.