Variation of Intercondylar Notch Angle in Non contact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Patients Attending Shree Birendra Hospital: A Case Control Study

Introduction: ACL injury is one of the common injuries of ligament of knee owing to increased involvement in sports and RTA. Non-contact ACL injury has shown to have increased incidence in Nepal as well. Various factors have shown to have association with ACL injuries such as sex, BMI and notch parameters like intercondylar notch angle. This study was conducted to study the effect of variation of INA in non-contact ACL injuries. Methods: A hospital based case control study was conducted in Department of Orthopedics, Shree Birendra Hospital, Chhauni. A total of 120 patients (60 with ACL injury and 60 with healthy ACL) were included in this study. Demographic data of the patients were taken and the intercondylar notch angle was measured from magnetic resonance images (MRIs). Statistical analysis was done to determine relationship between INA and ACL injury and demographic parameters and ACL injury. Results: The BMI of ACL injured patients averaged 24.42±2.09kg/m2 and that of controls averaged 24.42±2.00kg/m2 . This was not of statistical significance (p-value-0.287). The intercondylar notch angle among the ACL injured patients averaged 35.06 degrees which was of statistical significance when compared to non ACL injured patients (37.86 degrees) with p-value<0.05. The average intercondylar notch angle was found to be 36.46±2.77 degrees. Conclusion: ACL injured knees were noted to have narrower intercondylar notch angles. BMI was not significant in association with ACL injury in this study