Nuelle CW, Shubert D, Leary E, Pringle LC. Two-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Preparation for Autograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Demonstrates Quadriceps Tendon Is Thicker Than Patellar Tendon.
Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil 2023;
5:e783-e791. [PMID:
37388871 PMCID:
PMC10300585 DOI:
10.1016/j.asmr.2023.04.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to assess patellar tendon (PT) and quadriceps tendon (QT) thickness on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in both the sagittal and axial planes, at multiple points along each tendon, and to correlate these findings to anthropometric patient data before anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery.
Methods
Patients who underwent PT or QT autograft ACL reconstruction between 2020 and 2022 and who had preoperative MRIs with adequate visualization of the proximal QT and distal PT were retrospectively identified. Patient demographics were recorded (age, height, weight, sex, injury side). Preoperative MRI measurements were performed by 3 independent examiners using standardized protocol. Preoperative MRI measurements were the QT anterior-posterior (AP) thickness at 1, 2, and 4 cm from the proximal patella on axial and sagittal MRI images at the central aspect of the tendon, as well as PT AP thickness at 1, 2, and 4 cm from the distal patella on axial and sagittal MRI images at the central aspect of the tendon.
Results
Forty-one patients (21 females, 20 males) were evaluated, with a mean age of 33.4 years. The quadriceps tendon was significantly thicker than the patellar tendon at all measured locations (P < .0001) with average QT versus PT thickness (in mm) at each level sagittal 1 cm (7.13 vs 4.35), sagittal 2 cm (7.41 vs 4.44), sagittal 4 cm (7.26 vs 4.81), axial 1 cm (7.35 vs 4.50), axial 2 cm (7.63 vs 4.47), axial 4 cm (7.46 vs 4.62), respectively. There were no significant correlations between tendon size and patient body mass index.
Conclusions
The quadriceps tendon is significantly thicker than the patellar tendon at 1, 2, and 4 cm from the patella in both males and females based on preoperative MRI before ACL surgery.
Clinical relevance
Investigating the thickness of the tendons available for autograft harvest before surgery will give us a better understanding of tendon anatomy in the setting of ACL reconstruction.
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