MRI Evaluation of Femoral Intercondylar Notch Width Index in Cases with and without Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries. A Retrospective Study

TLDR: This study examined the relationship between the NWI and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in a Kuwaiti population and did not find any association between narrow intercondylar notch width and ACL tears.

Abstract: Objective: Research reports regarding the value of femoral notch width index (NWI) in predicting anterior cruciate ligament injury are conflicting. This study examined the relationship between the NWI and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in a Kuwaiti population. Design: Retrospective case control study Setting: Jaber Al Ahmad Armed Forces Hospital, Kuwait Subjects: Three hundred and fifty-five adult patients Intervention: Multiplanar MRI sequences were performed using a 1.5T GE machine with the patient’s knee in an extended position Main Outcome Measures: The femoral notch and the distal condylar width were measured. Patients with normal ACL were used as control and those with a complete or partial tear of ACL were chosen as case group. Independent samples Student’s t-test was used to compare the means. Results: We found no significant difference in the mean NWI in patients with (0.296) and without (0.300) an ACL tear (p > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the frequency of ACL tears in patients with and without critical notch stenosis (p > 0.05). Conclusion: We did not find any association between narrow intercondylar notch width and ACL tears.