Quantitative Mri Reveals Early Cartilage Degeneration in Acl-Injured Knees

Xiaojuan Li¹, Daniel Kuo, Keerthi Shet, Christoph Stehling, Jonathan Cheng, Thomas Link, Benjamin Ma, Sharmila Majumdar

Patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have a high risk of developing post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The goals of this study were: 1) to longitudinally evaluate cartilage matrix changes using T1ρ and T2 quantification; 2) to study the relationship between meniscal damage and cartilage degeneration. 12 patients with acute ACL-injures and 10 healthy controls were studied. Significantly elevated T1rho were observed at 1-year follow up. T1rho were more sensitive than T2 in detecting early changes in cartilage matrix in ACL-injured knees. Lesions in posterior horn of medial meniscus were correlated with accelerated cartilage degeneration in medial femoral condyle.