Associations between MRI Findings of the Anterolateral Ligament in Knee Injuries and Clinical Variables in Candidates for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Objectives: To evaluate the associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) and clinical variables in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients with clinically confirmed ACL tears scheduled for reconstruction between January and August ۲۰۲۴ at three orthopedic centers in Mashhad. MRI examinations were performed using a ۱.۵-T scanner and interpreted by two to three experienced radiologists. Associations between MRI-detected ALL injuries and clinical variables were analyzed statistically. Results: Eighty-three patients (mean age, ۲۹ years; ۹۰.۶% male) were included. MRI identified ALL injuries in ۳۴ patients (۴۱.۰%), while ۴۵ patients (۵۴.۲%) had no detectable ALL injury; four cases were unclassified. oncomitant ACL and ALL injuries were present in ۴۱.۷% of patients. A high-grade pivot shift test was positive in ۵۴.۲% of cases. Medial and lateral meniscal injuries were observed in ۵۳.۰% and ۱۳.۳% of patients, respectively, and joint effusion was present in ۶۰.۲%. Significant associations were found between ALL injury and MRI-detected effusion (P = ۰.۰۳۵) as well as a positive pivot shift test (P < ۰.۰۰۱). No significant relationships were observed between ALL injury and age, sex, or anterior drawer test findings. Conclusion: ALL injuries were significantly associated with joint effusion and positive pivot shift test results in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Although a possible association with posterior cruciate ligament buckling was observed, larger studies are needed to confirm this finding. Level of evidence: III

کلیدواژه ها:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ، Anterolateral Ligament (ALL) ، Concomitant Injury ، Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) ، Pivot Shift Test