Abstract
Several studies have highlighted the relationship between anterior cruciate (ACL) injury and knee geometry particularly tibial slope (TS). However, clinical data are inconsistent, whether the lateral or medial or slopes have a different influence on ACL injury. Our goal was to assess whether the medial, lateral slopes are associated with ACL injury and whether meniscus geometry is associated with ACL injury. In addition, we sought to determine if lateral meniscal height could serve as a simple surrogate measurement for ACL injury risk.
A case-controlled study compared 68 patients with an ACL injury and 68 matched nested controls. Radiological analysis of MRI measured the anterior-posterior distance of the medial and lateral plateaus, the tibial slope of both plateaus and meniscus geometry. Groups were compared using a Mann-Whitney test and α < 0 .05.
The lateral tibial plateau slope was significantly higher in the ACL injured group (6.92 degrees ±5.8) versus the control group 2.68 ±5.26 (p 0.0001). In addition, the lateral meniscal slope was significantly steeper with (ACL injuries: −1 ±4.7 versus −4.73 ±4.4 (p 0.0001) in the control group. The ACL Injured group had a significantly lower lateral meniscal height 0.76 cm ±0.09, compared to the control group that has 0.88 cm ±0.12 (p 0.0001). The Lateral meniscal height had a sensitivity of 76.47% and specificity 75% for predicting ACL injury using a cut off of
Patients with ACL-injury had significantly higher lateral tibial plateau slope. Lateral meniscus height was found to be an easy measurement to make on MRI with a high specificity for predicting ACL injury. Lateral tibial slope and meniscal Geometry can be used to identify patients with high risk of an ACL injury, that might benefit from further surgery to optimize rotational stability in high-risk patients.
