Intercondylar notch width and the risk for anterior cruciate ligament rupture: A case-control study in 46 female handball players

1994 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 529-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakon Lund-Hanssen ◽  
James Gannon ◽  
Lars Engebretsen ◽  
Ketil J Holen ◽  
Svein Anda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Intercondylar Notch ◽  
Notch Width ◽  
Ligament Rupture ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Intercondylar Notch Width ◽  
Control Study

Intercondylar Notch Width Measurement Differences between African American and White Men and Women with Intact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Knees

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1304-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Donald Shelbourne ◽  
Tinker Gray ◽  
Rodney W. Benner
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
African American ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
White Men ◽  
European American ◽  
Intercondylar Notch ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Notch Width ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Intercondylar Notch Width

Background A recent report of professional women's basketball found that white European American female players were 6.5 times more likely to tear their anterior cruciate ligament than their nonwhite European American counterparts. African Americans accounted for 95% of the nonwhite European American group. Hypothesis African American men and women have wider intercondylar notches than white men and women. Study Design Cohort study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 2. Methods We obtained 45° flexed weightbearing posteroanterior radiographs on 517 patients who had knee problems other than an anterior cruciate ligament injury or arthrosis. One experienced observer measured the intercondylar notch width with no knowledge of race or gender, and the measurements were analyzed based on race and gender. Results The mean intercondylar notch width was 15.5 mm (SD = 2.8; range, 9-22) for African American women and 14.1 mm (SD = 2.5; range, 8-21) for white women; this difference was statistically significant (P = .009). Similarly, the mean intercondylar notch width was 18.0 mm (SD = 3.6; range, 10-27) for African American men and 16.9 mm (SD = 3.1; range, 9-27) for white men; these values were statistically significantly different (P = .003). Conclusion We conclude that African Americans have statistically significantly wider intercondylar notch widths on 45° flexed weightbearing posteroanterior radiographs than whites of the same gender. This relationship may offer an explanation for the difference between races with regard to risk of anterior cruciate ligament tears.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document