Can Khan’s new method using MRI integrable to detect tibial plateau slope and depth as risk factors for anterior cruciate tear?

The Combined Effect of Body Mass Index and Tibial Slope Angles on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Risk in Male Knees: A Case-Control Study

Introduction:

Tibial slope angles (TSAs) have been identified as potential risk factors of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the literature. A higher body mass index (BMI) might increase the risk of ACL tear because of greater axial compressive force. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of these factors and the combined effect of BMI and TSA in determination of risk potential for ACL injury.

Methods:

The preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) images of 81 ACL-injured male knees and of 68 male individuals with no ACL injuries were evaluated by 2 radiologists to measure the TSA. The Mann-Whitney U-test was performed to indicate the significant difference in height, weight, and BMI values. The independent samples t-test was used to determine the differences between ACL-injured and non-injured groups regarding TSA values. Odds ratios were calculated by logistic regression tests, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves revealed the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) values to compare the relationships of these parameters with ACL injury.

Results:

Body mass index, lateral tibial slope (LTS), and medial tibial slope (MTS) were predictive of ACL risk injury. Body mass index alone had the greatest effect among these parameters, and there were no statistically significant differences in coronal tibial slope values between the ACL-ruptured and control groups. The greatest AUC was observed for the combination of BMI, MTS, and LTS.

Conclusions:

Body mass index, LTS, and MTS angles were associated with ACL injury risk and BMI + MTS + LTS together revealed the greatest effect on ACL injury.

Association Between Tibial Plateau Slopes and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the associations of medial tibial plateau slope (MTPS), lateral tibial plateau slope (LTPS), and coronal tibial plateau slope (CTPS) with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury both in the general population and in different gender subgroups.

METHODS

PubMed, Ovid, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched through from inception to August 31, 2016. Observational studies reporting associations of MTPS/LTPS/CTPS with ACL injury were retrieved for analysis. Either a fixed- or random-effects model was used to calculate the overall standardized mean difference (SMD). Reviews, meeting abstracts, cadaver or animal studies, and other studies without disclosing full text were excluded in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 29 studies were included. Subjects with ACL injury exhibited a significant increase in MTPS (SMD: 0.34 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 0.49]; P < .0001) and LTPS (SMD: 0.49 [95% CI: 0.30, 0.68]; P < .00001), but not in the CTPS (SMD: 0.09 [95% CI: -0.10, 0.27]; P = .36), compared with controls. Meanwhile, significant differences in MTPS and LTPS were observed in the male subgroup (SMD: 0.41 [95% CI: 0.20, 0.62]; P = .0001 and SMD: 0.55 [95% CI: 0.26, 0.85]; P = .0002, respectively) but not in the female (SMD: 0.31 [95% CI: -0.02, 0.64]; P = .06 and SMD: 0.26 [95% CI: -0.04, 0.56]; P = .09, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis showed that the increases in MTPS and LTPS were overall risk factors of ACL injury. However, these slopes would only be considered as "at risk" for males, but not for females. In addition, it was also proved that CTPS was not a risk factor of ACL injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, meta-analysis of Level II and III studies.