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Anterolateral ligament injuries in knees with an anterior cruciate ligament tear: Contribution of ultrasonography and MRI

  • Ultrasound
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Abstract

Objectives

To describe the pathological appearance of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) on US and MRI in knees with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear.

Methods

This prospective study included 30 patients who had a suspected acute ACL tear. Their injured and contralateral knees were evaluated with radiography, US and MRI. Two radiologists evaluated the ALL on the MRI and US examinations. Agreement between these examiners’ findings was evaluated with Cohen’s kappa.

Results

On US examination, the ALL was found to be injured in 63% of cases (19/30; k = 0.93). The enthesis was found to be torn in 50% of cases (15/30; k = 1), with the tear located at the tibial attachment in all instances. On the MRI exam, the ALL was found to be injured in 53% of cases (16/30; k = 0.93). The enthesis was found to be torn in 13% of cases (4/30; k = 0.76), with the tear located at the tibial attachment in all instances (k = 0.93).

Conclusion

ALL injuries that occur with ACL tears are located at the tibial enthesis. They are often associated with bone avulsion at the enthesis and are better viewed on US.

Key Points

• ALL injuries often occur in combination with ACL tears.

• ALL injuries can be assessed with ultrasonography and MRI.

• ALL injuries associated with ACL tears are located at the tibial enthesis.

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Abbreviations

ALL:

Anterolateral ligament

ACL:

Anterior cruciate ligament

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Joanne Archambault, PhD for the editorial assistance provided during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Radiologie, CHU Toulouse-Purpan, place du docteur Baylac, 31059, Toulouse, France

    Marie Faruch Bilfeld, Olivia Constans, Franck Lapègue, Hélène Chiavassa Gandois & Nicolas Sans

  2. Service d’Orthopédie, CHU Toulouse-Purpan, place du docteur Baylac, 31059, Toulouse, France

    Etienne Cavaignac & Karine Wytrykowski

  3. Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Universitaire Carémeau, place du Pr. Robert Debré, 30029, Nîmes, France

    Ahmed Larbi

Authors
  1. Marie Faruch Bilfeld
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  2. Etienne Cavaignac
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  4. Olivia Constans
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Correspondence to Marie Faruch Bilfeld.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Marie Faruch Bilfeld.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

Statistics and biometry

One of the authors has significant statistical expertise.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.

Ethical approval

Institutional review board approval was obtained.

Methodology

• prospective

• cross-sectional, diagnostic study

• performed at one institution

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Faruch Bilfeld, M., Cavaignac, E., Wytrykowski, K. et al. Anterolateral ligament injuries in knees with an anterior cruciate ligament tear: Contribution of ultrasonography and MRI. Eur Radiol 28, 58–65 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4955-0

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