Purpose: Mucoid degeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is not a well-known entity. Only 1 case of mucoid degeneration of the ACL has been reported in the English-language literature. This article describes 5 cases of mucoid degeneration of the ACL with clinical features, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and a method of arthroscopic management of these cases.
Type Of Study: Case series.
Methods: Over a period of 21 months from 1999 to 2001, 5 patients were diagnosed to be suffering from mucoid degeneration of the ACL using MRI, histopathologic, and arthroscopic criteria. All patients presented with progressive knee pain and restriction of flexion without history of a significant trauma or instability preceding the symptoms. MRI showed an increased signal in the substance of the ACL both in the T1- and T2-weighted images, with a mass-like configuration that was reported as a partial or complete tear of the ACL by most radiologists. At arthroscopy, the ACL was homogenous, bulbous, hypertrophied, and taut, occupying the entire intercondylar notch. The ligamentum mucosum was absent in all patients. A debulking of the ACL was performed by a judicious excision of the degenerate mucoid tissue, taking care to leave behind as much of the intact ACL as possible. Releasing it and performing a notchplasty treated impingement of the ACL to the roof and lateral wall. The ACL was not fully excised in any of the patients.
Results: All patients were pain free and had recovered full flexion except one who experienced painful flexion beyond 120 degrees. None of the patients showed symptoms of instability. Postoperative MRI performed after at least 12 months in 2 patients showed some intact ACL fibers in a now-thinned ACL mass.
Conclusions: Mucoid degeneration of the ACL is a clinical condition afflicting active middle-aged people without a single significant traumatic episode with a specific MRI picture. They respond well to a judicious arthroscopic release of the ACL with notchplasty.
Level Of Evidence: Level IV.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2003.11.030 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Is calcification integral to enthesopathy and tendinopathy rather than a separate disease process?
J Orthop
July 2025
Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School-The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Background: The pathophysiology of enthesopathy and tendinopathy is mucoid degeneration, which includes chondroid metaplasia. The chondroid metaplasia can be associated with calcification. Inflammation is typically absent unless calcification triggers a self-limited immune response representing acute calcific tendinitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMucoid Degeneration of Posterior Cruciate Ligament - A Case Study.
J Orthop Case Rep
November 2024
Department of Orthopaedics, Apex Superspeciality Hospital, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Introduction: Mucoid degeneration of the cruciate ligament is a well-known entity, but symptomatic lesions are rare. It is even rarer to find symptomatic posterior cruciate ligament mucoid degeneration than the anterior cruciate ligament.
Case Report: A 63-year-old male presented to our hospital complaining of posterior knee pain was induced when the knee approached full flexion without episodes of trauma, despite conservative treatment over the preceding 8 months, his symptoms persisted.
[Orbital and eyelid inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors: a clinicopathological analysis of 13 cases].
Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi
November 2024
Tianjin Eye Hospital, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Clinical College of Ophthalmology of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin 300020, China.
To investigate the clinicopathological features of orbital and eyelid inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs). A retrospective analysis was conducted among 13 patients with IMTs treated at Tianjin Eye Hospital between January 2000 and October 2023. The clinicopathological data, immunohistochemical staining characteristics, molecular phenotypes, and follow-up outcomes were collected and analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament-A Systematic Approach for Debulking.
Arthrosc Tech
September 2024
Division of Arthroscopy, Sports Injuries, Joint Preservation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, India.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) mucoid degeneration is an underdiagnosed condition that occurs when mucinous material develops in the ACL in the absence of synovial lining. Several authors have diagnosed this condition, discussed their own personal observations, and put forward their own suggestions for management. When diagnosed, one important strategy for management entails "debulking" the ACL using an arthroscopic debridement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreliminary Identification of Macroconidia (Asexual Forms) of Alternaria Species in Histologic Tissue Sections in a Post Covid Patient with Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis.
Turk Patoloji Derg
September 2024
Department of Pathology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, KARNATAKA, INDIA.
To document a case of `preliminary` identification of Alternaria sp (a phaeohyphomycotic agent) based on morphology in tissue section in a patient with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. A 25-year-old male, a known asthmatic in a post Covid -19 state, presented with headache, facial swelling and nasal block with discharge of brownish mucoid material. Debrided material from the right maxillary antrum and middle turbinate showed brownish mucoid material admixed with firm to hard degenerated bony spicules sent in formalin and subjected for histopathological examination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!