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Femoral intercondylar notch width size: a comparison between siblings with and without anterior cruciate ligament injuries

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in siblings are commonly observed in the clinic. One, possibly genetic, factor contributing to the pathogenesis of sibling injuries may be narrow intercondylar notches, which are well recognized as predisposing to ACL injury. This study aimed primarily to: (1) assess the incidence of ACL injuries in siblings within an existing study cohort, (2) compare intercondylar notch width size in injured compared to matched uninjured control siblings and (3) compare the number of injured versus control sibling pairs sharing a narrow notch.

Methods

Twenty-four ACL-injured siblings from 10 families were matched for age, gender, family composition and sports activity, with 24 uninjured siblings from another 10 families. Intercondylar radiographs were taken to calculate anterior and posterior notch width indices (NWI). Notch size and the number of narrow notches in sibling pairs were compared between groups.

Results

Thirteen of 72 ACL-study participants had siblings with torn ACLs. Mean anterior NWI was 0.18 and 0.24 (p < 0.001), and mean posterior NWI was 0.26 and 0.3 (p = 0.006) for injured and uninjured siblings, respectively. Sixty percent of injured sibling pairs shared a narrow notch, while no uninjured sibling pairs did so (p = 0.003).

Conclusion

This study showed that siblings (and often sibling pairs) with injuries do have significantly narrower notches than those without. This could partly explain the prevalence of ACL injuries in siblings. To reduce ACL-injury rates, we advise that siblings of ACL-injured athletes with narrow notches, be radiologically screened, and if necessary, cautioned and counselled regarding preventative training.

Level of evidence

Case–control study, Level III.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Private Practitioners fund at the Nambour General Hospital, Nambour, Queensland, Australia, for funding the radiographs. Thank you also to David Ward, Christopher Bates and Dr Nigel Sommerfeld.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 60 Netherton St., PO Box 584, Nambour, QLD, 4560, Australia

    S. L. Keays

  2. School of Health and Sports Sciences, The University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia

    S. L. Keays

  3. QE II Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    R. Keays

  4. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    P. A. Newcombe

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  1. S. L. Keays
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  2. R. Keays
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Correspondence to S. L. Keays.

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Keays, S.L., Keays, R. & Newcombe, P.A. Femoral intercondylar notch width size: a comparison between siblings with and without anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 672–679 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3491-6

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