To evaluate the predictive value of MRI in the early postoperative cou
rse after cruciate ligament replacement, a prospective study was perfo
rmed. Twenty patients with reconstructed anterior and/or posterior cru
ciate ligament were examined clinically and with contrast-enhanced MRI
2, 12, 24 weeks, 1 and 2 years postoperatively. The clinical examinat
ions were evaluated according to the scores by Lysholm, OAK and IKDC.
The MRI scans (SP 63, 1.5 Tesla) were evaluated regarding the quality
and signal intensity of the reconstructed ligament. During the first p
ostoperative year a significant increase in signal intensity and inhom
ogeneity of the neoligament in MRI was observed in 16 patients with an
average value for signal/noise of 1.1 2 weeks postoperatively up to 6
.9 1 year postoperatively. In 12 patients the reconstructed ligament c
ould not be evaluated in the 1-year postoperative MRI, whereas none of
these patients was suspected clinically of having instability. In the
2-year postoperative MRT, the signal intensity of the neoligament was
found to be decreasing again with improvement in judgement.