MRI of anterior cruciate ligament repair with patellar and hamstring tendon autografts

Abstract

The MRI appearance of ACL autograft is variable on proton density- and T -weighted images. Periligamentous tissue showing contrast enhancement is a typical MRI finding after clinically successful ACL reconstruction.

Clinical significance of T2*-weighted gradient-echo MRI to monitor graft maturation over one year after anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A comparative study with proton density-weighted MRI

“…Third, SIR as measured on the oblique sagittal images somewhat included signals of hypervascular synovial tissue surrounding the grafts. The periligamentous synovial tissue reportedly displayed high signal intensity overtime, regardless of the postoperative interval [10], and Jansson et al suggested that periligamentous tissue surrounding the graft largely contributes to increased graft intensity at around 6 months postoperatively [33]. In fact, we initially expected SIRs of the AMB and PLB to show different changes over time, but both SIRs showed similar trends and the initial hypothesis was rejected.…”

Pain following double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Correlation with morphological graft findings and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

“…18,21,22 The ligamentization process causes an increase in signal intensity in T2WI images replacing the normal homogeneous low signal intensity of the graft tendon. 23 This ligamentization process can last up to 2 years with the graft returning to its original homogeneous low signal intensity at the end of the process. 22 Injury of the graft tendon often relies on the assessment of increase signal intensity and discontinuity, thus the heterogeneous high signal from ligamentization can complicate these assessments.…”

MRI of double-bundle ACL reconstruction: evaluation of graft findings

“…In our patients, increased graft SI was always seen in both T1-and T2-weighted images, which may be due to mucinous degeneration. For SB ACL grafts, another hypothesis for increased SI on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images is alterations in the collagen structure of the graft caused by instrumentation or mechanical stress [42].…”