A radiographic model predicting the status of the anterior cruciate ligament in varus knee with osteoarthritis

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The study aims to investigate the accuracy of different radiographic signs for predicting functional deficiency of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and test whether the prediction model constructed by integrating multiple radiographic signs can improve the predictive ability. Methods A total number of 122 patients from January 1, 2018, to September 1, 2021, were enrolled in this study. Among them, 96 patients were classified as the ACL-functional (ACLF) group, while 26 patients as the ACL-deficient (ACLD) group after the assessment of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the Lachman’s test. Radiographic measurements, including the maximum wear point of the proximal tibia% (MWPPT%), tibial spine sign (TSS), coronal tibiofemoral subluxation (CTFS), hip–knee–ankle angle (HKA), mechanical proximal tibial angle (mPTA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA) and posterior tibial slope (PTS) were measured using X-rays and compared between ACLF and ACLD group using univariate analysis. Significant variables (p 52.4%), PTS (> 9.6°), and HKA (> 8.5°) were found to be predictive factors for ACLD, and MWPPT% had the highest sensitivity of the three factors. Therefore, MWPPT% can be used as a screening tool, while the model can be used as a diagnostic tool.

Keywords

• Uni-compartmental knee arthroplasty
• Knee Osteoarthritis
• Anterior cruciate ligament -deficient, ACLD
• Predictive factor
• Predictive model
• X-rays