Relationship of distal femoral morphometrics with anterior cruciate ligament injury using MRI

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study was to compare the distal femoral morphology in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) noninjured and injured patients and to explore differences between men and women. Patients and methods Retrospective study of MRI measurements of the distal femur of 159 patients was conducted; notch width (NW), bicondylar width (BCW), and notch index (NI) were measured in 72 patients with ACL injury and in 87 patients without ACL injury. All patients underwent knee arthroscopy. The measured values in both ACL-injured and non-ACL-injured male and female individuals were analyzed; P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results There were significant differences in NW and BCW between male and female individuals with non-ACL injury ( P = 0.000), whereas no statistically significant difference was noted regarding NI ( P = 0.789). There was statistically significant difference in the male group with ACL injury regarding NW and NI ( P = 0.000), with no significant statistical difference regarding BCW. In the female group, there were significant differences ( P = 0.000) in the bone morphology between ACL-injured and non-ACL-injured individuals, including NW, BCW, and NI. Conclusion There was difference between male and female distal femur morphologies. In both sexes, patients with small NI and NW are at high risk for ACL injuries.