Tibiofemoral Contact and Alignment in Patients with ACL Rupture Treated Conservatively vs Reconstruction

Description

In this presentation, David Stockton of UBC discusses a research project focusing on the long-term consequences of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures, specifically how they relate to symptomatic knee arthritis. He highlights that 50% of patients develop arthritis within ten years, regardless of surgical intervention. The study uses an Upright Open MRI to investigate biomechanical differences between reconstructed and non-reconstructed knees, analyzing factors like contact area and alignment post-injury. Participants included adults aged 18 to 50 who suffered unilateral ACL ruptures within the last five years, and both groups were well-matched demographically but differed slightly in age and knee documentation scores. The results indicate a 10% increase in contact area and a posterior shift in medial contact centroid in ACL ruptured knees, with no significant differences noted between reconstructed and non-reconstructed knees. The findings suggest that post-surgical knee mechanics do not fully restore pre-injury conditions, potentially explaining the continued risk of arthritis post-reconstruction. Stockton concludes the presentation by acknowledging the participants, co-investigators, and funding bodies.

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