Retrospective study analyzes tibial tunnel changes and graft maturation in ACLR, suggesting implications for knee function.
Key Points
This study aims to analyze changes in tibial tunnel morphology and graft maturation after ACL reconstruction, as well as their associations with clinical outcomes.
Conducted a retrospective study on 35 patients post-ACL reconstruction
Measured tibial tunnel diameter using MRI at multiple time points
Evaluated knee function using various scales preoperatively and at 2 and 5 years
Analyzed the relationship of tunnel enlargement and graft maturation with clinical outcomes using correlation coefficients
Tunnel diameter increased at 2 years and partially regressed by 5 years but remained larger than baseline
The signal intensity ratio (SIR) increased significantly at 2 years and slightly decreased by 5 years
A positive correlation existed between tunnel diameter and graft SIR at 2 years, but not with clinical outcomes
By 5 years, tunnel diameter in the tibial tunnel exit region correlated with knee stability measures