TYPE A INTERCONDYLAR FOSSA CONFIGURATION SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES ACL RUPTURE RISK: A MORPHOMETRIC MRI STUDY

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common and disabling injury, especially in active individuals.
• Femoral intercondylar fossa morphology is suspected to influence ACL injury risk.
• A Type A (narrow, steep) notch may predispose the ligament to impingement and rupture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the link between intercondylar fossa shape and ACL rupture using MRI.
• To perform morphometric analysis of the intercondylar fossa via MRI.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study of 80 participants (40 ACL rupture, 40 controls).
• Knee MRIs analyzed using Mimics software for intercondylar fossa classification (Types A, U, W).
• Statistical analysis included chi-square, logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis.

Main Results:

• Type A fossa morphology was more common in patients with ACL rupture (p<.001).
• Individuals with Type A fossa had an 8.76-fold increased risk of ACL rupture (OR=8.76; p<.001).
• ROC analysis showed 73.8% AUC, 82.5% sensitivity, and 65% specificity for predicting ACL rupture.

Conclusions:

• Intercondylar fossa morphology, specifically Type A, is strongly linked to higher ACL rupture risk.
• Morphological MRI assessment may aid in screening high-risk individuals.
• Findings can inform preventative strategies for ACL injuries.