Assessment of the Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Acute Injuries of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilo Partezani Helito ◽  
Paulo Victor Partezani Helito ◽  
Hugo Pereira Costa ◽  
Marco Kawamura Demange ◽  
Marcelo Bordalo-Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Anterolateral Ligament ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Acute Injuries ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

The Anterolateral Ligament Has Limited Intrinsic Healing Potential: A Serial, 3-Dimensional–Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Injured Knees From the SANTI Study Group

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110130
Author(s):  
Adnan Saithna ◽  
Camilo Partezani Helito ◽  
Thais Dutra Vieira ◽  
Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet ◽  
Koichi Muramatsu
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Anterolateral Ligament ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
3D Mri ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Background: Recent imaging studies demonstrate that the anterolateral ligament (ALL) is frequently injured at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. The intrinsic healing potential of these injuries after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) has not been defined. Purpose/Hypothesis: The primary objective was to evaluate the rate and duration of the healing process of injured ALLs after ACLR using serial 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D-MRI). The secondary objective was to investigate whether any patient, injury, or surgical factors influenced the healing rate. The hypothesis was that serial imaging would demonstrate that the ALL has limited healing potential. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Patients enrolled in the study underwent 3D-MRI (slice thickness 0.5 mm) preoperatively and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after ACLR. Three observers determined the grade of ALL injury according to the Muramatsu classification. Inter- and intraobserver reliabilities were calculated. The rates of injury and time points for healing were determined. Full healing was defined as a change from a preoperative Muramatsu grade of B or C (indicating partial or complete injury) to grade A (normal). Multivariate analysis was used to investigate the association of aforementioned factors with the risk of incomplete healing. Results: A total of 44 patients were enrolled in the study. Of them, 71.2% had an ALL injury on preoperative imaging. Overall, full healing of ALL injuries occurred at a rate of 3.2%, 15.2%, and 30.3% at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. There were no changes in the Muramatsu grade in any patient beyond 12 months postoperatively. None of the complete lesions demonstrated full healing, but the proportion of patients with a grade C injury decreased from 13.6% preoperatively to 4.5% at 12 months due to an improvement to grade B in 4 of 6 patients (66%). Inter- and intraobserver reliabilities of the classification system were almost perfect at 0.81-0.94 and 0.95-1.00, respectively. None of the potential risk factors investigated were predictive of an increased risk of nonhealing. Conclusion: ALL injuries occurred in the majority of ACL-injured knees. They had limited intrinsic healing potential, with only 30.3% healing by 12 months after ACLR. The process of healing took >6 months in half of the patients in whom it occurred. No new cases of full healing occurred beyond 12 months postoperatively. No significant risk factors for failure of full healing to occur were identified, but it is likely that this aspect of the study was underpowered.

scholarly journals Timing of magnetic resonance imaging affects the accuracy and interobserver agreement of anterolateral ligament tears detection in anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey Xinyun Han ◽  
Tien Jin Tan ◽  
Tiep Nguyen ◽  
Dave Yee Han Lee
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Interobserver Agreement ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Anterolateral Ligament ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Mri Scans ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Abstract Purpose We aimed to identify the anterolateral ligament (ALL) tears in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees using standard 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods We included all patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction at our center between 2012 and 2015. Exclusion criteria included patients with multiple ligament injuries, lateral collateral ligament, posterolateral corner, and infections, and patients who underwent MRI more than 2 months after their injury. All patients (n = 148) had ACL tears that were subsequently arthroscopically reconstructed. The magnetic resonance (MR) images of the injured knees performed within 2 months of injury were reviewed by a musculoskeletal radiologist and an orthopedic surgeon. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group of patients had MRI performed within 1 month of injury. The second group of patients had MRI performed 1–2 months after the index injury. Both assessors were blinded and the MR mages were read separately to assess the presence of ALL, presence of a tear and the location of the tear. Based on their readings, interobserver agreement (kappa statistic (K)), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were compared. Results The ALL was identified in 100% of the patients. However, there was a discrepancy of up to 15% in the identification of tear of the ALL. In the first group in which MRI scans were performed within 1 month of injury, the ALL tear was identified by the radiologist in 92% of patients and by the surgeon in 90% of patients (Κ = 0.86). In the second group in which MRI scans were performed within 1–2 months of the injury, the ALL tear was identified by the radiologist in 78% of patients and by the surgeon in 93% of patients (K = 0.62). Conclusion The ALL can be accurately identified on MRI, but the presence and location of ALL tear and its location cannot be reliably identified on MRI. The accuracy in identification and characterization of a tear was affected by the interval between the time of injury and the time when the MRI was performed. Level of evidence Diagnostic, level IIIb, retrospective.

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