title: Retrospective quantitative cartilage and semi-quantitative morphological evaluation at 6 years after ACL reconstruction.
abstract: Purpose We analyzed anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) patients in order to evaluate degenerative changes and the effect of meniscal insufficiency at mid-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty subjects (40 patients at 5.9 years after ACLR, 20 healthy controls) underwent 3T MRI. Quantitative cartilage T2 mapping and morphological Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) evaluation were performed. Self-reported questionnaires were used for subjective clinical evaluation. Based on the meniscal status at ACLR, further subdivision within each compartment (lateral and medial) was made: menisci intact and menisci insufficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ACLR subjects showed significantly elevated T2 values and higher WORMS scores compared to the control group. T2 values of the anterior lateral femoral subcompartment were significantly higher in menisci insufficient group compared to the control group. In both compartments significantly higher WORMS scores were observed in the menisci insufficient group compared to the menisci intact group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACLR knees exhibit cartilage matrix and morphological degeneration at mid-term follow-up. Lateral meniscal insufficiency noted at ACLR presents a higher risk of developing degenerative changes than does the medial meniscus insufficiency; however, this difference may not be detected clinically.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. ziga.snoj@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Žiga
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Snoj
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Zaloška 9, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Oskar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zupanc
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Vladka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salapura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D000072600:Meniscus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ACL reconstruction; Meniscus insufficiency; Osteoarthritis; T2 mapping