MRI findings in symptomatic patients following anterior cruciate ligament surgery

IntroductionConsidering the large number of patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, it is important for radiologists to be familiar with these procedures, the normal imaging findings as well as the appearances of common complications that can occur in these patients. Symptomatic patients might present with complications related to the graft itself or due to other causes not related to the graft.Aim of the workEvaluate the MRI findings in symptomatic patients following ACL surgery.Patients and methodsThe study included 26 symptomatic patients following anterior cruciate ligament surgery. The examination was done on 1.5 Tesla magnet MRI machines.ResultsTwenty-five patients had reconstruction surgery (96%) and 1 patient had fixation of tibial attachment (4%). Among 25 cases of ACL reconstruction 21 patients had semi-membranosus/semi-tendinosus graft (84%) and 4 patients had Bone-patellar tendon-Bone graft (16%). The most common finding was complete graft tear (32%); followed by abnormal tunnel position (24%); screw failure (16%); graft impingement and partial graft tear (12% each); tibial tunnel and femoral tunnel cysts (8% each); arthrofibrosis (4%).ConclusionsMRI is the modality of choice in evaluating the causes of symptomatic patients following ACL reconstruction surgery.