EVALUATION OF ARTHROSCOPIC ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION USING MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Thirty-two patients who had arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament re construction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft underwent sub sequent magnetic resonance imaging of the knee. A total of 32 magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed from 10 days to 39 mont hs postoperatively. The anatomic plane of the autograft was determined by obtaining a coronal pilot scan of the graft fixation screws or scr ew and staple. T1-weighted, T2-weighted, proton density, and gradient- echo imaging sequences were then obtained in the anatomic plane, as we ll as T1-weighted coronal images. The autograft was defined on the bas is of visualization of fiber continuity on T2-weighted images as follo ws: 1) intact; 2) having a partial tear; or 3) having a complete tear. These results were then correlated with clinical examination and, in 10 cases, subsequent arthroscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging correlate d with clinical findings in 31 of 32 patients. In addition, of the 10 patients who underwent subsequent arthroscopy, magnetic resonance scan ning correlated in all cases with arthroscopic findings. T2-weighted a nd, in some cases, proton density images were most useful in visualizi ng the autograft. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the anatom ic plane of the anterior cruciate ligament autograft can be a useful d iagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with patellar tendon ante rior cruciate ligament reconstructions when graft integrity is in ques tion.