Radiological Evaluation of Femoral Intercondylar Notch and Tibial Intercondylar Eminence Morphometries in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Pathologies Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between femoral-tibial morphometries and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) pathologies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 455 patients (211 females and 244 males) who underwent knee MRI with suspected ACL pathology. Imaging findings were classified as normal ACL (n = 119), degeneration of the ACL (n = 116), partial ACL tear (n = 103), and complete ACL tear (n = 117). In all groups, the femoral intercondylar notch width (INW), intercondylar distance (CD), notch width index (NWI), and intercondylar notch angle (INA), the angles between the tibial plateau and tibial spines (MPA and LPA), intercondylar eminence peak angle (IEA), and tibial slope angles (MSA and LSA) were measured.
RESULTS: Femoral INW and NWI were significantly lower in patients with ACL pathology (p < 0.05). They were also lower in patients with tear compared to degeneration. The INA was significantly smaller in patients with ACL pathology (p < 0.001) and the significance continued in both genders. The LSA was only increased in patients with complete tear (p < 0.01) and the difference seems existing in both genders. It was also found that the LPA and IEA demonstrated significant increases in patients with ACL pathology (p < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively) and the significance in LPA continued in both genders. Significant differences between males and females were found for the INW and CD in all 4 groups (p < 0.001). In addition, the INA, LPA and LSA were independent predictors in determining the risk of ACL pathology.
CONCLUSION: The ACL pathologies are associated with femoral-tibial morphometries and these associations exist in both genders. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-021-00490-7. © Indian Orthopaedics Association 2021.