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Anterior cruciate ligament bundle measurement by MRI

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Abstract

Objective

An accurate in vivo method of measuring dimensions of the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) bundles has not been established. The purpose of this study was to measure each individual bundle using double oblique axial MR imaging of the ACL, to compare this with cadaveric measurements, and to investigate the range of measurements seen in normal subjects.

Materials and methods

In five cadaveric knees, measurements obtained of the proximal, middle, and distal segments of each ACL bundle from double oblique axial MR images were compared with direct measurements following anatomical dissection. Thereafter, the size of both bundles from 24 normal knees was measured using an identical MR technique. Inter-observer variation was calculated using intraclass correlation.

Results

ACL bundle measurement in the cadaveric knees had a strong correlation (r = 0.93) with measurements obtained following anatomical dissection. No significant difference existed between measurements obtained from cadaveric knees and living normal subjects (p > 0.05). Interobserver correlation for MR measurements was excellent (R = 0.92–0.93). Overall, the long and short axis of the AM bundle were significantly larger than those of the PL bundle (p < 0.05). Also, men showed significantly larger AM and PL bundles than women (p < 0.05). Bundle size was not related to age or knee dominance.

Conclusion

The individual ACL bundles can be accurately measured on double oblique axial MR imaging. The AM bundle is larger in caliber than the PL bundle. Both bundles are larger in men than in women and there is no significant side-to side difference.

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Acknowledgments

The work described in this paper was partially supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No.SEG_CUHK02).

Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Alex W. H. Ng, Ryan K. L. Lee & James F. Griffith

  2. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Eric P. Y. Ho & Billy K. Y. Law

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  1. Alex W. H. Ng
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  2. Ryan K. L. Lee
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Correspondence to Alex W. H. Ng.

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Ng, A.W.H., Lee, R.K.L., Ho, E.P.Y. et al. Anterior cruciate ligament bundle measurement by MRI. Skeletal Radiol 42, 1549–1554 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1705-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1705-5

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