Articular cartilage of the knee 3 years after ACL reconstruction. A quantitative T2 relaxometry analysis of 10 knees.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

T1ρ or T2 relaxation imaging has been increasingly used to evaluate the cartilage of the knee. We investigated the cartilage of ACL-reconstructed knees 3 years after surgery using T2 relaxation times.

Patients and methods

10 patients with a clinically successful unilateral ACL reconstruction were examined 3 years after surgery. Multiple-TE fast-spin echo sagittal images of both knees were acquired using a 3T MRI scanner for T2 mapping of the tibiofemoral cartilage. T2 values of the superficial and deep zones of the tibiofemoral cartilage were analyzed in sub-compartmental areas and compared between the ACL-reconstructed and uninjured contralateral knees.

Results

Higher T2 values were observed in 1 or more sub-compartmental areas of each ACL-reco

SUBMITTER: Bae JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4564784 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature