Measurements of the Intercondylar Notch by Plain Film Radiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was twofold. In Part I, we determined the accuracy of morphometric analysis of the knee using magnetic resonance imaging and plain film radiography. The results of Part I validated the accuracy of magnetic resonance measurements and its superiority over plain film measurements. In Part II, we evaluated knee morphometry in 20 asymptomatic athletes with chronic anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency to determine if any predisposing factors to anterior cruciate ligament disruption could be detected. With our analysis, we could detect no predisposing factors to explain the anterior cruciate ligament disruption in the cohort group.

Risk factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury in skeletally immature patients: analysis of intercondylar notch width using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…This difference may be caused by different imaging techniques used for the evaluation of NWI. Two studies measuring NWI using MRI [8,21] have shown much higher values for normal adult populations than values reported in radiographic studies [2][3][4][5][6][7]20].…”

“…Our report is the first, as far as we know, to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate NWI in a population of skeletally immature patients. The imaging modality used to measure notch width has been the topic of considerable debate [5,8,[13][14][15][16]. Plain radiographic measurements of NWI are easy to obtain, but may be subject to patient positioning, variability in technique, projection and magnification [13].…”

“…Plain radiographic measurements of NWI are easy to obtain, but may be subject to patient positioning, variability in technique, projection and magnification [13]. Herzog [8] demonstrated that MRI measurements of intercondylar notch width were more accurate than those made on plain radiographs when compared to direct measurements from cadaveric specimens. Other authors have invalidated plain radiographic measurements of NWI as a standardising tool, suggesting that measurements of absolute notch width may be more useful [5,14].…”

“…Since that time, several authors have evaluated the role of a narrow intercondylar notch as a risk factor for acute ACL injury. While the majority of studies do suggest that notch stenosis is associated with a higher risk of ACL injury [2][3][4][5][6][7], others did not find significant differences between notch measurements of uninjured athletes and subjects with ACL tears [8][9][10]. We know of only one report focussing on the notch width in a paediatric population [11].…”

“…Similar measurements for describing the dimensions of the intercondylar notch have also been devised using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [8,[13][14][15][16].…”