TITLE:
Potential Association between Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear and “Bi-Collateral” Ligamentous Rupture: A Retrospective Study
AUTHORS:
Jean Roger Moulion Tapouh, Boniface Moifo, Cathy Monabang Zoé, Marc Leroy Guifo, Haoua Tebere, Annick Laure Edzimbi, Samuel Nko’o Amvene
KEYWORDS:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Meniscal Tears, Knee, Trauma
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Radiology,
Vol.5 No.4,
December
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common complications of knee trauma. This entity can be reliably diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. There is a lack of data on the epidemiology of ACL tears in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study is to describe the radiological aspects of post traumatic ACL tears in a black African setting (Yaounde Teaching Hospital). Methods: ninety six (96) MR studies of the knee were retrospectively reviewed. They were realized on a low field device (0.2T) from July 2012 to December 2013. All the examinations were indicated for knee trauma. Ligamentous, meniscal, bony and joint lesions were sought on coronal and sagittal sections. Results: the sample consists of 70% (68/96) of men. The mean age is 35.36 ± 11.86 years. The prevalence of ACL tears is 45.8% (44/96) of which 36 (81.81%, 36/44) are total tears. 23 (24%) have associated meniscal lesion and 8 (8.3%) have a simultaneous damage of the collateral ligaments. The most frequently injured part of the meniscus is its posterior horn (12/23 cases). Meniscal and “bi-collateral” ligament injuries are independently associated to ACL tears. Conclusion: The prevalence of ACL tears at the Yaounde Teaching Hospital is 45.8%. It is independently associated to meniscal tears and concomitant injury of the tibial and fibular collateral ligaments.