MR evaluation of human anterior cruciate ligament autograft on oblique axial imaging.

PURPOSE

The purpose was to observe the changing MR appearance of stable anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts on oblique axial images.

METHOD

Fifty-five knees in 44 patients were studied with MRI 1-54 months after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with double-looped autogenous semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. Knees with poor stability were excluded from this study. Examinations were performed at 0.2 T with SE proton density and T2-weighted sagittal and oblique axial images.

RESULTS

High signal intensity areas covered the grafts 1-3 months after surgery. The high signal subsequently extended into the intertendinous bundles. The entire graft gradually became a low signal intensity bundle again after 12 months. Grafts were classified by their appearance on the oblique axial images.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that high signal intensity can be seen within stable ACL grafts.