Intercondylar Notch Size Can Be Predicted on Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Overview

Journal Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil

Date 2020 Apr 9

PMID 32266354

Citations 3

Authors

Ravi Vaswani

Sean J Meredith

Jayson Lian

Ryan Li

Michael Nickoli

Freddie H Fu

Volker Musahl

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To develop a standardized method of intercondylar notch measurement on preoperative radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and validate that it could predict intraoperative notch measurements.

Methods: The charts and imaging of 50 patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were reviewed. A standardized method of intercondylar notch measurement on radiographs and MRI was used by 3 blinded reviewers. Arthroscopic measurements were made by the surgeon who was blinded to the imaging measurements. Interrater reliability was determined between reviewers and between imaging and arthroscopic measurements using interclass correlation coefficients (r).

Results: The average notch base width was 16.5 (± 2.7) mm on MRI, 19.0 (± 3.4) mm on radiographs, and 15.8 (± 3.0) mm on arthroscopic measurement. The radiographic notch base width measurements were on average 1.2 times greater than the arthroscopic measurements. There was no significant difference between males and females in notch base width (16.7 mm vs 15.3 mm, = .19) or area (312.5 mm vs 284.3 mm, = .17). Interrater reliability was excellent between the reviewers for notch base width measurement on both MRI (r = 0.91) and radiographs (r = 0.95). Good-to-excellent interrater reliability between notch base width measurements on MRI and arthroscopy (r = 0.78, 0.73, 0.7) and fair-to-good interrater reliability between notch base width measurements on radiographs and arthroscopy were found (r = 0.61, 0.58, 0.55).

Conclusions: This study introduces a reliable method of using preoperative MRI to predict intercondylar notch width during arthroscopy. This data can be used to identify patients with narrow notches preoperatively.

Level Of Evidence: Level III, diagnostic study.

Citing Articles

Association of Smaller Intercondylar Notch Size With Graft Failure After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Hughes J, Boden S, Belayneh R, Dvorsky J, Mirvish A, Godshaw B Orthop J Sports Med. 2024; 12(8):23259671241263883.

PMID: 39165328 PMC: 11334253. DOI: 10.1177/23259671241263883.

Current trends in the anterior cruciate ligament part II: evaluation, surgical technique, prevention, and rehabilitation.

Musahl V, Engler I, Nazzal E, Dalton J, Lucidi G, Hughes J Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2021; 30(1):34-51.

PMID: 34865182 DOI: 10.1007/s00167-021-06825-z.

The intercondylar fossa-A narrative review.

Hirtler L, Kainberger F, Rohrich S Clin Anat. 2021; 35(1):2-14.

PMID: 34374453 PMC: 9291140. DOI: 10.1002/ca.23773.

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