title: An Evaluation of the Association Between Radiographic Intercondylar Notch Narrowing and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Men: The Notch Angle Is a Better Parameter Than Notch Width.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries with the intercondylar notch angle and notch width in male patients. The secondary purpose was to evaluate the association of these injuries with other novel morphologic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction between 2010 and 2013 for injury through noncontact mechanisms with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging were compared with an age-matched control group of male patients (patients who underwent knee operations other than ACL reconstruction) regarding the following magnetic resonance imaging-assessed parameters: intercondylar notch angle, width, and depth; condylar width; medial/lateral condylar widths; medial/lateral posterior tibial plateau slopes; anterior sagittal tibial slope (corresponding to the level of the tibial ACL footprint); coronal tibial slope; and angle between the Blumensaat line and anterior tibial slope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both the coronal and axial planes, patients with ACL injury had a significantly lower intercondylar notch angle (P < .001 and P = .008, respectively) than the control group, but there were no significant between-group differences for intercondylar notch width (P = .9 and P = .97, respectively). In the sagittal plane, patients with ACL injury had significantly higher medial (P < .001) and lateral (P = .02) posterior tibial slopes, a significantly lower anterior tibial slope (P = .01), and a significantly higher angle between the Blumensaat line and anterior tibial slope (P = .02) than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Narrowing of the intercondylar notch may be associated with ACL injury in male patients. However, the intercondylar notch angle may be a better parameter to evaluate notch narrowing and its potential association with ACL injuries compared with the notch width. The association between the angle formed by the Blumensaat line and anterior tibial slope and ACL injuries in male patients needs more investigation. This study further suggests that increased posterior tibial slope may be associated with ACL injury in male patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III, case-control study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: ealentorngeli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alentorn-Geli
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Consorci Sanitari de l'Anoia, Igualada, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pelfort
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mingo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lizano-Díez
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leal-Blanquet
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torres-Claramunt
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hinarejos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puig-Verdié
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Parc de Salut Mar, Hospital del Mar and Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan Carles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Monllau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology*