Is double contrast arthrography of any value in lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament?

The clinical diagnosis of lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament may be difficult. It would be useful to have available an arthrographic method by means of which the clinical diagnosis could be confirmed. The results obtained with three different techniques using double contrast arthrography were studied in 150 cases, of which eighty-one were submitted to surgery. The anterior cruciate ligament was abnormal at operation in twenty-three of these eight-one cases. The level of accuracy using the technique described by Pavlov and Torg was approximately 85 per cent. Provided careful attention is paid to technical details, and the operator has some experience in the interpretation of arthrographic results, we would recommend this modification as being rapid, simple and free from risk.