Relationship between anterior cruciate ligament rupture and the posterior tibial and meniscal slopes in professional soccer athletes

• Published in: Skeletal radiology Vol. 50; no. 10; pp. 2041 - 2047
• Main Authors: Ikawa, Marcos Hiroyuki, Yamada, André Fukunishi, da Rocha Corrêa Fernandes, Artur, Skaf, Abdalla Youssef, Cohen, Moisés, Arliani, Gustavo Gonçalves
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anterior cruciate ligament; Athletes; Imaging; Injuries; Knee; Ligaments; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meniscus; Multivariate analysis; Nuclear Medicine; Orthopedics; Pathology; Professional soccer; Radiology; Risk; Rupture; Scientific Article; Slopes; Soccer; Soccer players; Sports injuries; Knee; Femur; Meniscus; Tibia; Soccer; Anterior cruciate ligament; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0364-2348; 1432-2161
• DOI: 10.1007/s00256-021-03776-x

Objective Several anatomical parameters have been associated with increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture; however, published studies provide conflicting results. The objectives of this study are to assess whether there is a relationship between anterior cruciate ligament rupture and the lateral and medial posterior tibial slopes, as well as the lateral and medial posterior meniscal slopes and posterior tibial and meniscal delta-slopes. Materials and methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted in professional soccer athletes, using images from knee magnetic resonance imaging scans in athletes with clinical and radiological diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament rupture, and control group, with no signs of ligament rupture. Results The lateral and medial posterior tibial slopes, the lateral and medial posterior meniscal slopes, and the posterior tibial and meniscal delta-slopes showed significant differences between the groups ( p  < 0.05). Multivariate analysis logistic regression revealed that the lateral and medial posterior meniscal slopes proved to be predictors for increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture in professional soccer players. Conclusion Posterior tibial and meniscal slopes and tibial and meniscal delta-slopes are related to a greater risk of rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in professional male soccer athletes. The lateral and medial posterior meniscal slopes are predictors for ligament rupture.