Comparison of bilateral ligaments after unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Based on magnetic resonance imaging analysis

Abstract

Objective This study quantitatively assessed postoperative changes in graft inclination angle and femorotibial position after ACL reconstruction using MRI, to identify reliable indicators for evaluating knee stability. Methods A retrospective analysis of 50 cases of ACL reconstruction from June 2019 to June 2020 included clinical outcome measures. MRI assessed graft/ACL inclination angles, medial/lateral anterior tibial translation (ATT), and femoral/tibial rotation angles on both surgical and contralateral sides. Femorotibial angle (FTA) and rotational tibial subluxation (RTS) were calculated for comparing MRI results. Results Following ACL reconstruction, graft inclination angles, ATT, and FA/TA were significantly greater than those of the contralateral knee joint (P<0.05). FTA and RTS did not differ significantly between sides, but exhibited significant correlation. Conclusions Graft inclination angles could not fully recover to normal levels post-ACL reconstruction, while notable medial/lateral ATT occurred on the surgical side. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between FTA and RTS, suggesting their potential as combined clinical indicators for assessing knee joint rotation stability.