Diffusion tensor imaging of the anterior cruciate ligament graft following reconstruction: a longitudinal study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To longitudinally monitor remodeling of human autograft following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with DTI. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients underwent DTI follow-up at 3, 8, and 14 months after clinically successful ACL reconstruction with tendon autograft. Among these, 18 patients had a concomitant lateral extra-articular procedure (LET). DTI data from 7 healthy volunteers was also obtained. Diffusion parameters (fractional anisotropy, FA; mean diffusivity, MD; axial diffusivity, AD; and radial diffusivity, RD) were evaluated within the fiber tractography volumes of the ACL graft and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in all patients. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model with post hoc testing using Bonferroni-Holm correction for multiple testing. The effect of additional LET was studied. RESULTS: The ACL graft showed a significant decrease of FA over time (F = 4.00, p = 0.025), while the diffusivities did not significantly change over time. For PCL there were no significant DTI changes over time. A different evolution over time between patients with and without LET was noted for all diffusivity values of the ACL graft with reduced AD values in patients with LET at 8 months postoperatively (p = 0.048; adjusted p = 0.387). DTI metrics of the ACL graft differed largely from both native ACL and tendon at 14 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown the potential of DTI to longitudinally monitor the remodeling process in human ACL reconstruction. DTI analysis indicates that graft remodeling is incomplete at 14 months postoperatively. KEY POINTS: • DTI can be used to longitudinally monitor the remodeling process in human ACL reconstruction. • DTI analysis indicates that autograft remodeling is incomplete at 14 months postoperatively. • DTI may be helpful for evaluating new ACL treatments.