Using magnetic resonance imaging to predict the diameter of autologous hamstring graft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Hamstring and patellar ligaments are the most common ligaments that used in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Preoperative knowledge about the diameter of the graft can be so useful for the surgeons. In the current study, the efficacy of measuring the graft diameter using MR imaging was investigated. In the present study 50 patients with ACL tearing who referred to Yazd Shahid Sadoughi Hospital during the first 6months of year underwent ACLR. Before the operation, the diameter of the hamstring graft was measured on MR images. Further, the true diameter was measured intraoperatively. Two measurements were compared and the presence of correlation between the graft diameter and BMI, weight and age was investigated. The data were analyzed by Spss software 19 and t-test. The average diameter of graft was 6.2±0.9 mm on MR images and 7.4±0.8 mm intraoperatively. The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.315). Furthermore, there was a positive significant correlation between two measurements (r=0.374, p=0.025). There was, also, a positive significant correlation between the graft diameter and weight (r=0.264, p<0.001). The results of the present study show that the MR images can be used as a reliable tool for estimating the hamstring graft diameter before ACLR