MRI of anterior cruciate ligament repair with patellar and hamstring tendon autografts.
OBJECTIVE
Several MRI sequences were used to evaluate the 2-year postoperative appearance of asymptomatic knee with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed with bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) and semitendinosus and gracilis (STG) tendon autografts.


METHODS
Two groups with successful repair of ACL tear with BTB (n = 10) or STG (n = 10) autografts were imaged at 1.5 T with sagittal and oblique coronal proton density-, T2-weighted and sagittal STIR sequences and plain and contrast-enhanced oblique coronal T1-weighted sequences. The appearance of the graft and periligamentous tissues was evaluated.


RESULTS
In all 20 cases, the ACL graft showed homogeneous, low signal intensity with periligamentous streaks of intermediate signal intensity on T2-weighted images. In 10 cases, localised areas of intermediate signal intensity were seen in the intra-articular segment of the graft on proton density- and T1-weighted images. The graft itself did not show enhancement in either of the two groups, but mild to moderate periligamentous enhancement was detected in 10 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The MRI appearance of ACL autograft is variable on proton density- and T -weighted images. Periligamentous tissue showing contrast enhancement is a typical MRI finding after clinically successful ACL reconstruction.
Jansson
K A
KA
Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Karjalainen
P T
PT
Harilainen
A
A
Sandelin
J
J
Soila
K
K
Tallroth
K
K
Aronen
H J
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010329:Patella; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*