Longitudinal Texture Analysis of the Infrapatellar Fat Pad in ACL-Injured Knees

Motivation: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is associated with development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis and infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) abnormalities. Goal(s): Our goal was to quantify texture features of the IPFP in patients with ACL injury (pre- and post-ACLR) and compare to healthy contralateral knees. Approach: Image texture features were calculated from bilateral knee MRIs acquired at baseline (TP0), 6-months post-ACLR (TP1), and 1-year post-ACLR (TP2) from patients with acute, unilateral ACL tears. Results: The IPFP of ACL-injured knees had greater texture variability as compared to healthy contralateral knees up to 1-year post-ACLR. Impact: Texture heterogeneity of the IPFP of ACL-injured knees were higher up to 1-year post-ACLR compared to intact contralateral knees. MRI-based texture analysis can be used to differentiate between injured and contralateral knees.