title: The influence of the tibial slope and the size of the intercondylar notch on rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament.
abstract: It has been suggested that an increased posterior tibial slope (PTS) and a narrow notch width index (NWI) increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The aim of this study was to establish why there are conflicting reports on their significance. A total of fifty patients with a ruptured ACL and 50 patients with an intact ACL were included in the study. The group with ACL rupture had a statistically significantly increased PTS (p < 0.001) and a smaller NWI (p < 0.001) than the control group. When a high PTS and/or a narrow NWI were defined as risk factors for an ACL rupture, 80% of patients had at least one risk factor present; only 24% had both factors present. In both groups the PTS was negatively correlated to the NWI (correlation coefficient = -0.28, p = 0.0052). Using a univariate model, PTS and NWI appear to be correlated to rupture of the ACL. Using a logistic regression model, the PTS (p = 0.006) and the NWI (p < 0.0001) remain significant risk factors. From these results, either a steep PTS or a narrow NWI predisposes an individual to ACL injury. Future studies should consider these factors in combination rather than in isolation.
authors: Centre Orthopédique Santy, 24 Avenue Paul Santy, Lyon 69008, France. sonnerycottet@aol.com
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Sonnery-Cottet
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Archbold
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Cucurulo
authors: J-M
authors: JM
authors: Fayard
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bortolletto
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Thaunat
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Prost
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Chambat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012421:Rupture / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult