title: Smaller anterior cruciate ligament diameter is a predictor of subjects prone to ligament injuries: an ultrasound study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test if diameter of normal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be measured by ultrasound (US), to see if there is a relationship between smaller ACL diameter and ACL injury, and to assess agreement between radiologists in measuring ACL diameter in cases and matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this ethics committee-approved study, maximum diameter of ACL near tibial insertion site was measured by static and dynamic US study in 25 normal contralateral knees of subjects who suffered noncontact ACL injury and in 25 matched control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACL was visualized as a thick linear hypoechoic band inserted approximately 11 mm caudal to the tibial plateau and the intercondylar eminence. Maximum diameter of contralateral ACL near tibial insertion site among injured subjects was significantly smaller than in noninjured subjects (0.62 ± 0.07 cm versus 0.81 ± 0.06 cm; P < 0.0001). In the regression analysis, the diameter of ACL near tibial insertion site was found significantly proportional to body weight and not significantly associated to height, gender, and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diameter of normal ACL near tibial insertion site can be measured by US and the maximum diameter is significantly smaller among subjects with noncontact ACL injury. US is a promising modality that can be used as an excellent screening test to detect subjects especially aspiring athletes prone to ACL injury. Very strong agreement was observed between radiologists in measuring ACL diameter.
authors: Department of Clinical Imaging, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Parag Suresh
authors: PS
authors: Mahajan
authors: Medical Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Prem
authors: 0000-0001-6922-7121
authors: P
authors: Chandra
authors: Department of Clinical Imaging, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Vidya Chander
authors: VC
authors: Negi
authors: Department of Clinical Imaging, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Abhilash Pullincherry
authors: AP
authors: Jayaram
authors: Department of Clinical Imaging, Hamad Medical Corporation, P.O. Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Sheik Akbar
authors: SA
authors: Hussein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D056352:Athletes; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography