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Article

Anterior Intercondylar Notch Geometry in Relation to the Native Anterior Cruciate Ligament Size

1
Department of Clinical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
2
Department of Orthopedics, Dr. Carol Davila Central Military University Emergency Hospital, 010242 Bucharest, Romania
3
Department of Reumatology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
4
Department of Reumatology, Dr. Ion Stoia Rheumatic Disease Center, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
5
Department of Radiology, Dr. Carol Davila Central Military University Emergency Hospital, 010242 Bucharest, Romania
6
Department of Fundamental Science, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(2), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020309
Submission received: 20 November 2023 / Revised: 18 December 2023 / Accepted: 3 January 2024 / Published: 5 January 2024

Abstract

Background: The intercondylar notch (ICN) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are important structures in knee morphometry, with key roles in stabilizing the knee. Aim: To determine the associations between the specific shape of the ICN (A-, W-, or U-shape) and the ACL size in patients with intact ACLs. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were independently analyzed by two experts: one orthopedic surgeon and one imaging physician. In all cases, the following measurements were taken based on the existing definitions: ACL area, anterior ICN (aICN) area, ICN width, lateral trochlear inclination (LTI), and Insall–Salvati index. Results: A total of 65 cases (50.8% male; 33.8 ± 10.2 years mean age at inclusion) were included in the study. The ACL and aICN areas were significantly larger in patients with U-shaped compared with A-shaped and W-shaped ICNs: 0.50 (0.20–0.80) vs. 0.40 (0.20–0.80) vs. 0.40 (0.30–0.80), p = 0.011 and 1.16 (0.57–3.60) vs. 0.47 (0.15–0.95) vs. 0.37 (0.15–0.81), p < 0.001, respectively. Internal meniscal lesions were more common in cases with U-shaped ICNs (64.0%), while external ones were more common in W-shaped ICN cases (35.3%). None of the A-shaped cases had external chondral or meniscal lesions. The ACL area was significantly larger in males and internal meniscal injuries, with no differences between chondral lesions, external meniscal injuries, patellar chondral lesions, patella alta, or trochlear dysplasia. Conclusion: The specific shape of the intercondylar notch was associated with the anterior cruciate ligament–anterior intercondylar notch (ACL–aICN) area size correlation, with a strong correlation between ACL and aICN area when the intercondylar notch was A-shaped or W-shaped, and a low correlation when the notch was U- shaped. The specific shape of the intercondylar notch (A-, W-, or U-shape) was associated with the occurrence of both internal and external meniscal injuries, with the U-shaped intercondylar notch morphometry being more frequent in cases with internal meniscal injuries and the W-shape being more common in cases with external meniscal injuries.
Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament; intercondylar notch; knee injuries; lateral trochlear inclination; notch shape anterior cruciate ligament; intercondylar notch; knee injuries; lateral trochlear inclination; notch shape

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MDPI and ACS Style

Cernat, E.M.; Dima, A.; Popescu, C.; Neagu, A.; Betianu, C.; Moga, M.; Manolescu, L.S.C.; Barbilian, A. Anterior Intercondylar Notch Geometry in Relation to the Native Anterior Cruciate Ligament Size. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 309. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020309

AMA Style

Cernat EM, Dima A, Popescu C, Neagu A, Betianu C, Moga M, Manolescu LSC, Barbilian A. Anterior Intercondylar Notch Geometry in Relation to the Native Anterior Cruciate Ligament Size. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(2):309. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020309

Chicago/Turabian Style

Cernat, Eduard M., Alina Dima, Claudiu Popescu, Andrei Neagu, Cezar Betianu, Marius Moga, Loredana Sabina Cornelia Manolescu, and Adrian Barbilian. 2024. "Anterior Intercondylar Notch Geometry in Relation to the Native Anterior Cruciate Ligament Size" Journal of Clinical Medicine 13, no. 2: 309. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020309

APA Style

Cernat, E. M., Dima, A., Popescu, C., Neagu, A., Betianu, C., Moga, M., Manolescu, L. S. C., & Barbilian, A. (2024). Anterior Intercondylar Notch Geometry in Relation to the Native Anterior Cruciate Ligament Size. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(2), 309. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13020309

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