ArticleBone & joint open2021
Two-year postoperative MRI appearances of anterior cruciate ligament hamstrings autografts are not correlated with functional outcomes, anterior laxity, or patient age.
Article in Bone & joint open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Can MRI predict return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction? A systematic review of the literature.La Radiologia medica · 2025Pooled it
- Prospective MRI-Based Comparison of Graft Maturation After ACL Reconstruction Using Quadriceps Versus Hamstring Tendon Autograft.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Article
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration: An Imaging Atlas of Morphological Features and Healing Trajectories.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Article
- The use of additional strands to increase graft diameter in primary ACL reconstruction provides optimal outcomes and does not compromise healing at 12-months follow-up.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026Article
- Return to Previous Levels of Performance Around 10 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft Does Not Delay Signal Intensity Reduction in a Graft: A Serial 3.0-T MRI Study.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2025Article
- Prospective Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Capsulolabral Repair in Athletes With Anterior Glenohumeral Instability: Does Cicatrization Exist?Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2025Article
- SHORT-TERM MRI EVALUATION OF CAPSULOLABRAL REPAIR IN ATHLETES WITH ANTERIOR GLENOHUMERAL INSTABILITY: CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL OUTCOMES.Acta ortopedica brasileira · 2025Article
- Joint Effusion at 3 Months After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Its Risk Factors and Association With Subsequent Muscle Strength and Graft Remodeling.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2024Article
- Association of Graft Maturity on MRI With Return to Sports at 9 Months After Primary Single-Bundle ACL Reconstruction With Autologous Hamstring Graft.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2024Article
- Quadriceps Tendon Autograft ACL Reconstruction With Suture Tape Augmentation: Safe Results Based on Minimum 2-Year Follow-up MRI.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2024Article
- Tibial tunnel expansion does not correlate with four-strand graft maturation after ACL reconstruction using adjustable cortical suspensory fixation.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2023Review
- Anterior cruciate ligament autograft maturation on sequential postoperative MRI is not correlated with clinical outcome and anterior knee stability.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2022Article
- Sufficient MRI graft structural integrity at 9 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft.Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA · 2022Article
- Identifying Clinical and MRI Characteristics Associated with Quality of Life in Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Prognostic Factors for Long-Term.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
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5 authors.
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Abstract
aimsMRI has been suggested as an objective method of assessing anterior crucate ligament (ACL) graft "ligamentization" after reconstruction. It has been proposed that the MRI appearances could be used as an indicator of graft maturity and used as part of a return-to-sport assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between MRI graft signal and postoperative functional scores, anterior knee laxity, and patient age at operation.
methodsA consecutive cohort of 149 patients who had undergone semitendinosus autograft ACL reconstruction, using femoral and tibial adjustable loop fixations, were evaluated retrospectively postoperatively at two years. All underwent MRI analysis of the ACL graft, performed using signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ) and the Howell score. Functional outcome scores (Lysholm, Tegner, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective, and IKDC objective) were obtained and all patients underwent instrumented side-to-side anterior laxity differential laxity testing.
resultsTwo-year postoperative mean outcome scores were: Tegner 6.5 (2 to 10); Lysholm 89.8 (SD 10.4; 52 to 100); and IKDC subjective 86.8 (SD 11.8; 51 to 100). The objective IKDC score was 86% A (128 patients), 13% B (19 patients), and 1% C (two patients). Mean side-to-side anterior laxity difference (134 N force) was 0.6 mm (SD 1.8; -4.1 to 5.6). Mean graft SNQ was 2.0 (SD 3.5; -14 to 17). Graft Howell scores were I (61%, 91 patients), II (25%, 37 patients), III (13%, 19 patients), and IV (1%, two patients). There was no correlation between either Howell score or SNQ with instrumented anterior or Lysholm, Tegner, and IKDC scores, nor was any correlation found between patient age and ACL graft SNQ or Howell score.
conclusionThe two-year postoperative MRI appearances of four-strand, semitendinosus ACL autografts (as measured by SNQ and Howell score) do not appear to have a relationship with postoperative functional scores, instrumented anterior laxity, or patient age at surgery. Other tools for analysis of graft maturity should be developed. Cite this article:
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