INTERCONDYLAR NOTCH WIDTH AND THE RISK FOR ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENTRUPTURE - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN 46 FEMALE HANDBALL PLAYERS

We measured the intercondylar notch of the femur in female handball pl ayers from radiographs of 20 players with previous unilateral anterior cruciate ligament injury, and 26 controls without injury, The groups were comparable regarding age, height, weight and level of performance . Intercondylar fossa radiographs were obtained in a posteroanterior a xial position. The anterior opening of the intercondylar notch was nar rower in the healthy knee of the injured group compared to the control s. There was an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury as sociated with decreasing notch opening: female handball players with 1 7 mm or less anterior notch width were 6 times more susceptible to ant erior cruciate ligament injury compared to players with wider notch wi dth.