Comparison of involved and uninvolved limb knee cartilage t2 values 24 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

There is a well-established relationship between anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and the premature development of osteoarthritis (OA) [1]. Transverse relaxation (T2) time, a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) parameter, is capable of quantifying the degradation of the cartilage’s collagen matrix, an early sign of OA development. As part of a longitudinal study, we examined T2 values in the knee cartilage of involved and uninvolved limbs 24 months post ACLR. In all regions the involved limb had elevated T2 values (more indicative of collagen matrix degradation) when compared to the uninvolved limb.