The document summarizes findings from an imaging journal club discussion on MRI findings related to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), both with and without tears and after reconstruction. Key points discussed include MRI signs of ACL and PCL tears like avulsion fractures and fiber disruption, evaluation of graft incorporation and healing after reconstruction, and assessment of tunnel placement and enlargement.
7. Impression in the lateral femur after a twisting injury. There is
also anterior translation of the tibia compared to the femur
beyond 7mm
8. Sagittal T2-weighted MRI, complete disruption of the ACL fibres
Avulsion of the tibial attachment of the ACL.
Tibial Avulsion on CT.
9. Intraligamentous areas of increased signal Ganglion cyst (a, open arrow).
T1-weighted MRI (arrows), which indicates mucoid degeneration.
Mucoid degeneration may later evolve into cysts
Celery stalk sign
(mucoid degeneration)
10. Posterior cruciate ligament buckling and
Posterior cruciate ligament line sign.
Shearing of fat pad.
Coronal whole posterior cruciate ligament
and lateral collateral ligament sign in single
coronal image.
11. O’ Donoghue’s triad
Peripheral posterior horn meniscal tears,
Acute or chronic ACL injuries,
Medial collateral ligament tear
Posterolateral corner injury
Acute complete anterior cruciate
ligament tear (white arrowhead).
Lateral collateral ligament and partial
disruption of the fibres are present at
the femoral origin (L),
Posterior capsule and the oblique
popliteal ligament (OPL) also show
thickening and oedematous change,
Popliteofibular ligament is severely
swollen and oedematous suggestive of
high grade partial tear (curved
blackarrow).
13. • German Arthroscopy Association (AGA) showed that MRI
represents one of the decision-making criteria for return to
sport activity in only 4% (Petersen W, Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2013)
14. A. The graft is surrounded by an intermediate signal intensity tissue (red arrows),
representing vascularization and synovialization.
B. At the 12th month, the periligamentous signal has disappeared and the graft
signal decreased resembling that of PCL.
T2-Fast recovery sat-spin echo (FRFSE) MRI a hyperintense line within the graft body
Healing Process
15. Sagittal T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRI showed a thickened
graft with high signal at 9 months after operation.
After two years the graft is dark and resembles the native ACL.
16. Intercondylar space is occupied by mixoid tissue with slightly hyperintense
signal in proton density turbo-shin echo weighted images (white arrows). It is
not possible to distinguish the regular course of the graft.
22. Localized area of low to intermediate signal intensity extending anterior to
the distal anterior cruciate ligament graft consistent with local arthrofibrosis.
23. PCL
Stress radiographs of the knees, show
pathological translation on the right side. It
was measured to 11m whereas the normal
(physiologic) translation on the left side was
5mm.
24. Complete disruption of the PCL fibres.
Avulsion of the PCL attachment on the tibia on T2- and T1-
weighted MRI (arrows).
Thick PCL >7mm, consistent with a ruptured PCL.
26. PCL graft six months postoperatively on a sagittal and coronal T2
Editor's Notes
Segond fracture – Anterolateral fracture of knee capsule
4 steps: The
initial avascular necrosis, the revascularization, cellular
proliferation, and final remodeling
It should be localized behind a line that is tangential to the Blumensaat line (line b);
however, without going beyond the midpoint of the proximal tibia with the knee
in full extension. The femoral tunnel should be located at the intersection of the
posterior femoral cortex (line a) and the lateral wall of the intercondylar notch
(line b). The position of the tibial tunnel entrance is measured as following: the
total antero-posterior diameter of the tibial plateau (line c) is measured in the
sagittal slice where the tibial entrance is better visualized. The location of the
anterior margin of the tunnel is obtained dividing the distance from the anterior
tibial plateau margin and the most anterior part of the tunnel entrance (point
1) for the total AP diameter (line c) and multiplying for 100. The location of the
posterior margin (point 3) and the center of the tunnel (point 2) are obtained
similarly (A). Sagittal view with a tibial tunnel positioned anterior to the midpoint
of the tibial plateau diameter, resulting in an increased risk of impingement (B).
Sagittal view with a tibial tunnel positioned too posterior, resulting in a vertical
graft (C). The native ACL is located between the 31% and 63% of the tibial
plateau diameter, with its center at 48%. ACL: Anterior cruciate ligament.
Measurement of the sagittal obliquity of the graft.
The inclination is calculated measuring the angle between the
perpendicular line (line c and d) to the proximal tibial axis (line a and
b), and the line which best defines the course of intra-articular part of
the graft (line e and f). A high angle represents a vertical graft in the
sagittal plane (A). Vertically positioned graft, with an angle of 78°, far
higher than the normal range 50°-60° (B).
Measurement of the coronal
obliquity of the graft. The inclination is calculated
measuring the angle between the
tangent line to the tibial plateau (a and b) and
the line which best defines the course of the
intra-articular part of the graft (c and d). A high
angle represents a vertical graft in the coronal
plane (A). Vertically positioned graft, with an
angle of 88°, far higher than the normal value <
75° (B).