Tibial tunnel and pretibial cysts following ACL graft reconstruction: MR imaging diagnosis.

Skeletal Radiol

Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Published: November 2012

AI Article Synopsis

  • Tunnel cyst formation is a rare complication that can occur 1-5 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, sometimes causing symptoms.
  • The proposed causes for these cysts include necrosis, foreign-body reactions, incomplete graft integration, and fluid intrusion.
  • MRI findings for tunnel cysts feature widening of the tibial tunnel and cyst formation, with careful differentiation needed from possible infections or foreign-body issues, though graft failure due to these cysts has not been reported.

Article Abstract

Tunnel cyst formation is a rare complication after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, usually occurring 1-5 years post-operatively, which may occasionally be symptomatic. There are multiple proposed theories regarding the etiology of tunnel cysts. Theories include necrosis, foreign-body reaction, lack of complete graft osteo-integration, and intravasation of articular fluid. It is important to know if the tunnel cysts are communicating or not communicating with the joint, as surgical management may be different. Imaging characteristics on magnetic resonance images (MRI) include tibial tunnel widening, multilocular or unilocular cyst formation in the graft or tibial tunnel, with possible extension into the pretibial space, intercondylar notch, and/or popliteal fossa. The MR imaging differential diagnosis of tibial tunnel cysts includes infection, foreign-body granuloma, or tibial screw extrusion. Importantly, to the best of our knowledge, graft failure or instability has not been reported in association with tibial tunnel cysts.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1486-2DOI Listing

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