Medial knee pain is commonplace in clinical practice and ultrasound assessment of the tibial collateral ligament-medial meniscus complex is increasingly becoming a valuable examination tool in the outpatient setting. In the pertinent literature, basic sonographic protocols have been proposed to evaluate the medial compartment of the knee joint. Using high-frequency ultrasound probes and high-level ultrasound machines; we matched the histo-anatomical features of the tibial collateral ligament-medial meniscus complex and its different sonographic patterns in physiological/pathological conditions to define a standardized (layer-by-layer) sonographic approach. Moreover, high-sensitive power Doppler assessments have also been performed to evaluate the nearby microcirculation. Modern ultrasound equipment appears to provide optimal "sonographic dissection" of the tibial collateral ligament-medial meniscus complex for its various physiological/pathological patterns. Likewise, high-sensitive power Doppler allows clear visualization of the microcirculation as regards the local ligamentous and capsular structures. In clinical practice, using adequate technological equipment, a detailed sonographic assessment of the tibial collateral ligament-medial meniscus complex can be performed. High-frequency B-mode ultrasound imaging and high-sensitive power Doppler perfusion patterns can be matched/integrated with the clinical findings to optimize the management of patients with medial knee pain.

1st Faculty of Medicine Institute of Anatomy Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Basic Medical Sciences Neurosciences and Sense Organs Aldo Moro University Bari Italy

Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies University of Salento Lecce Italy

Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Hacettepe University Medical School Ankara Turkey

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital Prague Czech Republic

Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science IRCCS Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute University of Bologna Bologna Italy

Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit Luigi Sacco University Hospital ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco Milan Italy

Unit of Ultrasound in Internal Medicine Department of Medicine and Science of Aging G d'Annunzio University Chieti Italy

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