Ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage of calcific bursitis of the medial collateral ligament of the knee: a case report and review of the literature

Skeletal Radiol. 2016 Oct;45(10):1419-23. doi: 10.1007/s00256-016-2442-3. Epub 2016 Aug 3.

Abstract

Objectives: Calcification of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee is rare. The literature reports no positive outcomes when conservative treatment has been followed. This paper reports a case of such calcification and its treatment using ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage (UGPL).

Methods: A 66-year-old patient presented with medial knee pain. X-ray, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance (MR) examinations revealed calcific bursitis of the MCL, which was treated by UGPL.

Results: One month after treatment the patient was asymptomatic. X-ray, ultrasound, and MR examinations confirmed the almost complete disappearance of the calcification; only very tiny fragments remained.

Conclusions: Calcific bursitis of the MCL of the knee is very uncommon, but should be taken into account in differential diagnoses for medial knee pain. UGPL is proposed as a treatment for this condition.

Keywords: Calcific bursitis; Medial collateral ligament; Percutaneous lavage; Ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthralgia / etiology
  • Arthralgia / prevention & control*
  • Bursitis / complications
  • Bursitis / therapy*
  • Calcinosis / complications
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Calcinosis / therapy*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / diagnostic imaging*
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional / methods*