Six‐month post‐surgical elevations in cartilage T1rho relaxation times are associated with functional performance 2 years after ACL reconstruction

ABSTRACT The current study looks to: (i) investigate postural stability following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, as assessed by Y‐Balance Test, by comparing single‐leg balance of the injured limb against those of controls and the uninjured limb; (ii) analyze the relationship between postural stability symmetry with localized cartilage matrix changes and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Bilateral knee MRI of 36 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction were performed before surgery, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, postoperatively. Postural stability was evaluated based on Y‐Balance Test at 1 and 2 years. ACL patients were also split into three groups based on postural stability symmetry at 2 years and symmetry thresholds associated with elevated risks of lower extremity injury. Voxel‐based relaxometry employing analysis of covariance was used to analyze localized differences in cartilage composition at all time‐points (using quantitative magnetic resonance [MR] T1ρ and T2 mapping) between the three groups. The ACL patients displayed no significant deficits in postural stability. Compared with symmetric patients, those with asymmetric postural stability at 2 years had significantly prolonged cartilage T1ρ—indicating deterioration of the cartilage matrix—specifically in the injured knee's medial tibia as early as 6‐month post‐reconstruction. Prolonged T1ρ in asymmetric patients persisted up to 2 years, where the group also reported worse KOOS. Our results demonstrate an association between early stages of cartilage matrix deterioration and postural stability symmetry that may manifest in elevated lower extremity injury risk and worse patient‐reported outcomes. Quantitative MR, in combination with local analysis performed with voxel‐based relaxometry, is a tool to further study this relationship. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:1132‐1140, 2020