title: Is there a correlation between posterior tibial slope and non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was (1) to determine differences in posterior tibial slope (PTS) between subjects who underwent ACL reconstruction following a non-contact ACL injury and a matched control uninjured group and (2) to investigate gender differences between ACL-injured subjects and gender-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted of all 316 ACL-deficient patients at a large regional academic teaching hospital. A control group was established searching the database of the same hospital for subjects who underwent knee radiographs for acute knee complaints with no ACL injury. Subjects (n = 272; males n = 199; females n = 73) were included if a non-contact mechanism could be established. Exclusion criteria included previous ipsilateral knee injury and/or knee previous surgery. PTS was measured on a digitalized lateral radiograph using the axis of the posterior tibial cortex as a reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference (P = 0.008) within the ACL injury group between males and females. There was no significant difference in the PTS angle between those patients with an ACL injury (5.8 ± 3.5 degrees) and the uninjured control group (5.6 ± 3.2 degrees), or between the male ACL injury patients (5.5 ± 3.4) and their control group (5.8 ± 3.1). However, there was a significant difference between the female ACL injury patients (6.7 ± 3.7) and their uninjured control group (5.0 ± 3.4) (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that increased posterior tibial slope appears to contribute to non-contact ACL injuries in females, but not in males.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Clinical Medical School, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. ehohmann@optusnet.com.au
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Hohmann
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Bryant
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Reaburn
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Tetsworth
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