Anterior Intercondylar Notch Geometry in Relation to the Native Anterior Cruciate Ligament Size

The intercondylar notch (ICN) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are important structures in knee morphometry, with key roles in stabilizing the knee.

To determine the associations between the specific shape of the ICN (A-, W-, or U-shape) and the ACL size in patients with intact ACLs.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were independently analyzed by two experts: one orthopedic surgeon and one imaging physician. In all cases, the following measurements were taken based on the existing definitions: ACL area, anterior ICN (aICN) area, ICN width, lateral trochlear inclination (LTI), and Insall-Salvati index.

A total of 65 cases (50.8% male; 33.8 ± 10.2 years mean age at inclusion) were included in the study. The ACL and aICN areas were significantly larger in patients with U-shaped compared with A-shaped and W-shaped ICNs: 0.50 (0.20-0.80) vs. 0.40 (0.20-0.80) vs. 0.40 (0.30-0.80), p = 0.011 and 1.16 (0.57-3.60) vs. 0.47 (0.15-0.95) vs. 0.37 (0.15-0.81), p < 0.001, respectively. Internal meniscal lesions were more common in cases with U-shaped ICNs (64.0%), while external ones were more common in W-shaped ICN cases (35.3%). None of the A-shaped cases had external chondral or meniscal lesions. The ACL area was significantly larger in males and internal meniscal injuries, with no differences between chondral lesions, external meniscal injuries, patellar chondral lesions, patella alta, or trochlear dysplasia.

The specific shape of the intercondylar notch was associated with the anterior cruciate ligament-anterior intercondylar notch (ACL-aICN) area size correlation, with a strong correlation between ACL and aICN area when the intercondylar notch was A-shaped or W-shaped, and a low correlation when the notch was U- shaped. The specific shape of the intercondylar notch (A-, W-, or U-shape) was associated with the occurrence of both internal and external meniscal injuries, with the U-shaped intercondylar notch morphometry being more frequent in cases with internal meniscal injuries and the W-shape being more common in cases with external meniscal injuries.