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Intra-articular calcifications following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction: prevalence and possible significance

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Abstract

Purpose

The goal of our study was to determine the frequency of intra-articular calcifications on initial postoperative radiographs following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, describe their appearance, hypothesize their etiology, and determine their significance.

Materials and methods

Review of records and post-operative radiographs for individuals undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction at our institution identified 758 knees between November 2002 and April 2010. All patients underwent femoral and tibial tunnel drilling regardless of graft source. All but 23 underwent notchplasty.

Results

Intra-articular calcifications on initial postoperative radiographs were observed in 252 knees. The majority of calcifications were curvilinear, paralleling the posterior femoral condyles. Nineteen of the patients with calcifications on initial studies had repeat radiographs within 6 years. The calcifications resolved in every case.

Conclusions

This study shows that intra-articular calcifications are a common finding on initial post-operative radiographs following ACL reconstruction. We feel they are of doubtful clinical significance, and in our limited experience, they eventually resolve. They should not be confused with chondrocalcinosis or vascular calcification.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Leanne L. Seeger, Kambiz Motamedi & Benjamin D. Levine

  2. Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Ste. 165-57, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-6952, USA

    Leanne L. Seeger & Eric Sako

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Sharon L. Hame

Authors
  1. Leanne L. Seeger
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  2. Eric Sako
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  3. Kambiz Motamedi
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  4. Benjamin D. Levine
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  5. Sharon L. Hame
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leanne L. Seeger.

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Seeger, L.L., Sako, E., Motamedi, K. et al. Intra-articular calcifications following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction: prevalence and possible significance. Skeletal Radiol 43, 209–212 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1773-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1773-6

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