Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2022
Publisher
Wiley
Source Publication
Journal of Orthopaedic Research
Source ISSN
0736-0266
Original Item ID
DOI: 10.1002/jor.25043
Abstract
Osteoarthritis development after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is not well understood. Investigators have examined associations between knee biomechanical alterations and quantitative MRI (qMRI) variables, reflective of cartilage health, 12–60 months following ACLR; however, none have done so early after surgery. As part of an exploratory study, 45 individuals (age, 23 ± 7 years) underwent motion analysis during walking and qMRI 3 months after ACLR. For each limb, peak knee adduction moment (pKAM) and peak knee flexion moment (pKFM) were determined using inverse dynamics and peak medial compartment force was calculated using a neuromusculoskeletal model. T2 relaxation times in the medial compartment and linear regressions were used to determine the associations between gait variables and deep and superficial cartilage T2 relaxation times in six regions. pKAM was positively associated with deep layer T2 relaxation times within the femoral central and posterior regions when examined in the involved limb and from an interlimb difference perspective (involved limb – uninvolved limb). After adjusting for age, the association between interlimb difference of pKAM and interlimb difference of deep layer T2 relaxation times in the tibial central region became significant (p = .043). Interlimb difference of pKFM was negatively associated with interlimb difference of deep layer T2 relaxation times within the femoral central and posterior regions. These associations suggest that degenerative pathways leading to osteoarthritis may be detectable as early as 3 months after reconstruction. Preventative therapeutic techniques may need to be employed early in the rehabilitation process to prevent cartilage degradation.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Jack R.; Neal, Kelsey; Alfayyadh, Abdulmajeed; Lennon, Kendra; Capin, Jacob J.; Khandha, Ashutosh; Manal, Kurt; Potter, Hollis G.; Snyder-Mackler, Lynn; and Buchanan, Thomas S., "Knee Cartilage T2 Relaxation Times 3 Months after ACL Reconstruction are Associated with Knee Gait Variables Linked to Knee Osteoarthritis" (2022). Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications. 197.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/phys_therapy_fac/197
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, Vol. 40, No. 1 (January 2022): 252-259. DOI. © 2022 Wiley. Used with permission.
Jacob J. Capin was affiliated with University of Delaware and University of Colorado at the time of publication.