Highlights
- •Graft ligamentization was evaluated by UTE-T2* 6 months postoperatively.
- •Higher graft tension was an independent risk factor of incomplete ligamentization.
- •Lower initial graft tension was related to lower UTE-T2* value of the graft.
Abstract
Background
To evaluate the risk factor of “ligamentization” using the ultrashort echo time (UTE)-T2*
imaging.
Methods
Fifty-nine patients (23 males and 36 females, age of 21.9 ± 10.6 years old) who underwent
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring tendon were evaluated.
The UTE T2* values of the reconstructed ACL at 6 months postoperatively were calculated.
Circular regions of interest (5–10 mm2) were set at the proximal, mid-substance, and distal regions of the reconstructed
ACL. The UTE T2* values of the entire reconstructed ACL were calculated as the average
of these three points. Patients were divided into high (27 knees) and low (32 knees)
UTE T2* groups by calculating whether their UTE T2* values were greater than the median
of the UTE T2* values of all patients. Risk factors for high UTE T2* values were evaluated.
Clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.
Results
There were no significant differences in any measured parameters and clinical outcomes
between the two UTE T2* groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that graft tension
was a significant risk factor for patients with high UTE-T2* values (P = 0.047, odds
ratio [OR] = 2.285). The UTE-T2* values of the 20 N graft tension using the Tension
loc system were significantly lower than those of the 40 N using double-spike plate
(DSP) with screws at each site and the 30 N using the Tension loc system at the distal
site.
Conclusions
Higher graft tension was an independent risk factor for high UTE T2* values of the
reconstructed ACL.
Keywords
Abbreviations:
ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), BMI (body mass index), CI (confidence interval), DSP (double-spike plate), GBA (Graft bending angle), HT (hamstring tendon), IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee), KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), LM (lateral meniscus), MM (medial meniscus), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), OR (odds ratio), PST (pivot shift test), SNQ (signal-to-noise quotient), ROIs (circular regions of interest), UTE (ultrashort echo time)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 23, 2022
Accepted:
November 3,
2022
Received in revised form:
September 9,
2022
Received:
April 16,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
