Matthew S Harkey1, J Troy Blackburn2, Daniel Nissman3, Hope Davis2, Isaac Durrington4, Christina Rizk2, Alexa Kuismanen5, Brian Pietrosimone2. 1. Division of Rheumatology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, and Department of Quantitative Health Science, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. 2. Department of Exercise and Sports Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 3. Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 4. University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis. 5. University of Glasgow, Scotland.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Developing osteoarthritis is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Monitoring changes in femoral cartilage size after ACLR may be a way to detect the earliest structural alterations before the radiographic onset of osteoarthritis. Diagnostic ultrasonography (US) offers a clinically accessible and valid method for evaluating anterior femoral cartilage size. OBJECTIVE: To compare the US measurements of anterior femoral cross-sectional area and cartilage thickness between limbs in individuals with a unilateral ACLR and between the ACLR limbs of these individuals and the limbs of uninjured control participants. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 20 volunteers with an ACLR (37.0 ± 26.6 months after surgery) and 28 uninjured volunteers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We used US to assess anterior femoral cartilage cross-sectional area and thickness (ie, medial, lateral, and intercondylar) in the ACLR and contralateral limbs of participants with ACLR and unilaterally in the reference limbs of uninjured participants. RESULTS: The ACLR limb presented with greater anterior femoral cartilage cross-sectional area (96.68 ± 22.68 mm2) than both the contralateral (85.69 ± 17.57 mm2, t19 = 4.47; P < .001) and uninjured (84.62 ± 15.89 mm2, t46 = 2.17; P = .04) limbs. The ACLR limb presented with greater medial condyle thickness (2.61 ± 0.61 mm) than both the contralateral (2.36 ± 0.47 mm, t19 = 2.78; P = .01) and uninjured limbs (2.22 ± 0.40 mm, t46 = 2.69; P = .01) and greater lateral condyle thickness (2.46 ± 0.65 mm) than the uninjured limb (2.12 ± 0.41 mm, t46 = 2.20; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Anterior femoral cartilage cross-sectional area and thickness assessed via US were greater in the ACLR limb than in the contralateral and uninjured limbs. Greater thickness and cross-sectional area may have been due to cartilage swelling or hypertrophy after ACLR, which may affect the long-term health of the joint.
CONTEXT: Developing osteoarthritis is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Monitoring changes in femoral cartilage size after ACLR may be a way to detect the earliest structural alterations before the radiographic onset of osteoarthritis. Diagnostic ultrasonography (US) offers a clinically accessible and valid method for evaluating anterior femoral cartilage size. OBJECTIVE: To compare the US measurements of anterior femoral cross-sectional area and cartilage thickness between limbs in individuals with a unilateral ACLR and between the ACLR limbs of these individuals and the limbs of uninjured control participants. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 20 volunteers with an ACLR (37.0 ± 26.6 months after surgery) and 28 uninjured volunteers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We used US to assess anterior femoral cartilage cross-sectional area and thickness (ie, medial, lateral, and intercondylar) in the ACLR and contralateral limbs of participants with ACLR and unilaterally in the reference limbs of uninjured participants. RESULTS: The ACLR limb presented with greater anterior femoral cartilage cross-sectional area (96.68 ± 22.68 mm2) than both the contralateral (85.69 ± 17.57 mm2, t19 = 4.47; P < .001) and uninjured (84.62 ± 15.89 mm2, t46 = 2.17; P = .04) limbs. The ACLR limb presented with greater medial condyle thickness (2.61 ± 0.61 mm) than both the contralateral (2.36 ± 0.47 mm, t19 = 2.78; P = .01) and uninjured limbs (2.22 ± 0.40 mm, t46 = 2.69; P = .01) and greater lateral condyle thickness (2.46 ± 0.65 mm) than the uninjured limb (2.12 ± 0.41 mm, t46 = 2.20; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS:Anterior femoral cartilage cross-sectional area and thickness assessed via US were greater in the ACLR limb than in the contralateral and uninjured limbs. Greater thickness and cross-sectional area may have been due to cartilage swelling or hypertrophy after ACLR, which may affect the long-term health of the joint.
Authors: Matthew S Harkey; J Troy Blackburn; Anthony C Hackney; Michael D Lewek; Randy J Schmitz; Brian Pietrosimone Journal: Cartilage Date: 2020-09-19 Impact factor: 3.117
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