Hello
I had an MRI done last month and after fighting with the doctors office, I finally got a copy of it. I've done the internet search and made most of it understandable but am wondering how bad my knee really is. My doctor says I can be looking forward to the injections and total knee replacement soon enough.
My questions-if someone can help me.
There is not much information on the web for what Chondral Disease is? The MRI uses high grade not Grade I or whatever other grades, does that mean I still have a good amount of cartilage or how does this compare?
Findings (i've tried to only high light the most important things, my ACL are other ligaments and tendons are fine)
"There is no knee hoint effusion. Susceptibility-type artifacrs are seen in the medial peri-retinacular soft tissues." The menisci are normal in configuration and without any definite signal abnormalities."
"There is a localized subchondral marrow signal alteration at the weight-bearing aspect of the lateral femoral condyle, likely on the basis of overlying chondral disease. No osteochondral lesions or loose bodies are identified. There is evidence of chondromalacia at the patelle. No focal chondral defects are identified."
Impression"
"High Grade paterllar chondromalacia"
"Localized chondral disease at the weight bearing aspect of the lateral femoral condyle"