To evaluate the value of MR imaging in the examination of ligament injury of the knee, we retrospectively analysed the MR images of 61 injured knees of 60 patients. The presence of tear was determined by arthroscopy in all cases. Anterior/posterior cruciate ligaments(ACL/PCL) were demonstrated by sagittal images. Media/lateral collateral ligaments(MCL/LCL) were evaluated on coronal images. The diagnostic accuracy were 91.8%, 96.7% and 100% for ACL, PCL and MCL, respectively. The specificity for the lateral collateral ligament was 100%. It is concluded that magnetic resonance imaging is an accurate method in detecting injury of the ligaments of the knee.