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Skeletal Radiology
Published in: Skeletal Radiology 3/2015

01-03-2015 | Scientific Article

Deep lateral notch sign and double notch sign in complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament: MR imaging evaluation

Authors: Alexandre Grimberg, Hoda Shirazian, Hamid Torshizy, Edward Smitaman, Eric Y. Chang, Donald L. Resnick

Published in: Skeletal Radiology | Issue 3/2015

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Abstract

Objective

To systematically compare the notches of the lateral femoral condyle (LFC) in patients with and without complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in MR studies by (1) evaluating the dimensions of the lateral condylopatellar sulcus; (2) evaluating the presence and appearance of an extra or a double notch and its association with such tears.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board, and informed written patient consent was waived. In 58 cases of complete ACL tears and 37 control cases with intact ACL, the number of notches on the LFC was determined, and the depth and anteroposterior (AP) length of each notch were measured in each third of the LFC. The chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression model were used to analyze demographic data and image findings, as appropriate.

Results

Presence of more than one notch demonstrated a sensitivity of 17.2 %, specificity of 100 %, positive predictive value of 100 %, and negative predictive value of 43.5 % for detecting a complete ACL tear. Lateral third depth measurement (p = 0.028) was a significant associated finding with a complete ACL tear.

Conclusion

A deep notch in the lateral third of the LFC is a significant associated finding with a complete ACL tear when compared with an ACL-intact control group, and the presence of more than one notch is a specific but insensitive sign of such a tear.
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Metadata
Title
Deep lateral notch sign and double notch sign in complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament: MR imaging evaluation
Authors
Alexandre Grimberg
Hoda Shirazian
Hamid Torshizy
Edward Smitaman
Eric Y. Chang
Donald L. Resnick
Publication date
01-03-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Skeletal Radiology / Issue 3/2015
Print ISSN: 0364-2348
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2161
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-2056-6

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