Intercondylar Notch Stenosis of Knee Osteoarthritis and Relationship between Stenosis and Osteoarthritis Complicated with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Abstract

The aim of this study was to research whether the patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) exist intercondylar notch stenosis and the relationship between stenosis and OA complicated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).A total of 79 cases of moderate–severe OA patients and 71 cases of healthy people were collected; among these OA patients, 38 were OA complicated with ACL injury and 41 were simple OA. The intercondylar notch was divided into A, U, and W types according to the notch shape in the axial sequence of MRI. Measurement of the notch width index (NWI) in the sequences of axial (NWI-1), coronal (NWI-2), and ACL attachment point at femoral (NWI-A) was done. The differences of NWI in different groups and different sequences were compared and the NWI cut-off values in different sequences were resolved by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve which could be used as indicators for intercondylar notch narrowing were calculated.The proportion of type A in moderate–severe OA group was larger than healthy group, and similar to OA complicated with ACL injury and simple OA groups (P <0.05). The NWI values of the moderate–severe OA group in three sequences were smaller than the healthy group, and similar to OA complicated with ACL injury and simple OA groups (P <0.001). The cut-off values of ROC curve were NWI-1 <0.266, NWI-2 <0.247, and NWI-A <0.253 in the moderate–severe OA group, and NWI-1 <0.263, NWI-2 <0.246, and NWI-A <0.253 in the OA complicated with ACL injury group. The intercondylar notch of moderate–severe OA patients exist significant stenosis. Type A is one of the variables that predispose a notch to stenosis. Intercondylar notch stenosis and type A are risk factors for moderate–severe OA patients complicated with ACL injury.

Individual and Combined Anatomic Risk Factors for the Development of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Men: A Multiple Factor Analysis Case-Control Study

“…Intercondylar notch stenosis is a risk factor for an ACL injury. 4 Intercondylar NW, NWI, and NW:EW ratio have been used in the measurement of notch stenosis. In most of the studies, an NW between 10.4 and 22.5 mm, especially ≤17 mm, was associated with a significantly increased risk of ACL injuries.…”

Comparison of magnetic resonance imaging for patients with acute and chronic anterior cruciate ligament tears

“…[ 5 ] Direct signs on MRI for patients with ACL tear include focal or diffuse high signal intensity within the substance of the ACL on T2-weighted images as well as the lack of continuity of the ACL. [ 6 , 7 ] The use of indirect signs of ACL was advocated to improve accuracy and numerous indirect signs have been described. These include orientation of the ACL, bone contusions and osteochondral fractures, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) line, PCL angle, PCL bowing, and posterior displacement of the lateral meniscus.…”

Notchplasty for the Arthroscopic Treatment of Limited Knee Extension

“…9 More recently, magnetic resonance imaging has been used as an accurate imaging modality for measurement of the notch width. 10 An additional Magnetic resonance image performed in a left knee, preoperatively. The sagittal view in T1 is used to evaluate the osteophytes.…”