Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 24, 2026
Non-Invasive Compression-Induced Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury and In Vivo Imaging of Protease Activity in Mice
Published on: September 29, 2023
Quantitative UTE MRI Differences in the Meniscus Following ACL Reconstruction: A Prospective Cohort Study Using 3D
Jiayang Wu1,2,3, Dina Moazamian1, Donghyun Kim1,4
1Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Background:
ACLR is associated with altered joint loading and increased risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Conventional MRI has limited sensitivity to early meniscal differences because of short-T2 signal decay and magic-angle effects.
Purpose:
To evaluate whether 3D ultrashort echo time imaging-based adiabatic T1rho (UTE-Adiab-T1rho) and ultrashort echo time imaging-based macromolecular fraction (UTE-MMF) identify regional quantitative MRI differences after ACLR.
Study Type:
Prospective longitudinal cohort study.
Population:
30 control scans, 19 ACLR scans at 6-12 months, and 13 ACLR scans at 12+ months were analyzed. Mean ages were 34.5, 34.5, and 37.2 years; female/male counts were 15/15, 9/10, and 8/5.
Field Strength/Sequence:
Participants underwent 3-T knee MRI with 3D fat-saturated UTE-Adiab-T1rho and UTE magnetization transfer sequences.
Assessment:
UTE-Adiab-T1rho and UTE-MMF maps were generated with single-component exponential and two-pool magnetization transfer models. Values were extracted from four meniscal regions of interest by a blinded reader, with blinded redelineation in a subset. Patient-reported outcomes included International Knee Documentation Committee, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores.
Statistical Tests:
Linear mixed-effects models accounted for repeated observations. Benjamini-Hochberg FDR correction was applied.
Results:
UTE-Adiab-T1rho showed significant group (q = 0.001) and region (q < 0.001) effects. Compared with controls, UTE-Adiab-T1rho was higher in LAM at 6-12 months (+5.60 ms; q = 0.035) and 12+ months (+7.09 ms; q = 0.028), and in LPM at 12+ months (+6.35 ms; q = 0.035). UTE-MMF showed significant group (q = 0.041) and region (q < 0.001) effects. LPM UTE-MMF was lower than controls at 6-12 months (-3.56 percentage points; q = 0.028) and 12+ months (-3.10 percentage points; q = 0.049). No 6-12 versus 12+ month MRI or PROM contrast survived FDR correction. MRI-PROM associations were not FDR-significant (all q ≥ 0.383).
Data Conclusion:
UTE-Adiab-T1rho and UTE-MMF mapping identified regional MRI differences after ACLR. Pairwise differences were concentrated in lateral regions, but corrected group-by-region interactions were not significant. PROMs were worse after ACLR but did not differ between postoperative windows after correction.
Evidence Level:
2.
Technical Efficacy Stage:
2.
