Correlation Analysis of Potential Factors Influencing Graft Maturity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Postoperatively, signal changes of the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images commonly occurs, which may be a cause for concern. The signal intensity changes are usually expressed by signal/noise quotient (SNQ) value, representing graft maturity. To date, little is known about the factors influencing the SNQ value of the reconstructed ACL graft.

To evaluate ACL graft SNQ value and associated factors after ACL reconstruction.

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Male patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using autograft or allograft tendon from September 2004 to September 2011 were randomly invited to take part in this investigation, including functional scores, physical examination, and MRI scan. The femoral side graft was fixed with Endobutton CL or Rigidfix pins, and the tibial side graft was fixed with a bio-intrafix. SNQ values of each graft were measured on MRI to represent graft maturity. Sagittal ACL angle, ACL-Blumensaat line angle, and medial and lateral posterior tibial slope (PTS) were measured using MRI 3-dimensional dual-echo steady-state images. Potential risk factors, including age, body mass index, postoperative time, Tegner activity scale (TAS), sagittal ACL angle, ACL-Blumensaat line angle, medial PTS, lateral PTS, and primary graft diameter, were tested for their association with the graft SNQ value by multivariate stepwise regression analysis.

A total of 104 male subjects (mean follow-up, 30.7 months) were examined, including 62 allograft and 42 autograft reconstructions. There was a significant association between graft SNQ and postoperative time (r = -0.431, P < .001), TAS (r = 0.295, P = .002), and ACL-Blumensaat line angle (r = -0.304, P = .002). Univariate regression analysis showed that TAS (β = 6.15, P < .001) positively correlated, postoperative time (β = -0.26, P < .001) negatively correlated, and ACL-Blumensaat line angle (β = -0.40, P = .038) negatively correlated with graft SNQ. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that TAS, postoperative time, ACL-Blumensaat line angle, and age were significant independent factors associated with graft SNQ.

The graft SNQ value had a significant positive correlation with physical activity level and a significant negative correlation with postoperative time in this study. Males with a shorter postoperative time and a higher physical activity level had higher graft signal intensity postoperatively.