Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy of thigh muscles in cruciate ligament insufficiency

Abstract

In 21 patients with injury-related, chronic, anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency, ¹H-magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and ³¹P-MR spectroscopy of the quadriceps muscles were performed with a systemic superconductive MR apparatus. The quadriceps of the noninjured side was used as the control. The quadriceps had a reduced cross-sectional area, but the knee flexors were not reduced. T₂ values were prolonged in the vastus lateralis, medialis, and intermedius, but those of the rectus femoris were not. Phosphocreatine per inorganic phosphate measured with ³¹P-MR spectroscopy was decreased in the atrophied muscles, which correlated with the muscular cross-section. There was no difference in the muscular pH as recorded by the chemical-shift measurements of phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate. Serial measurements of muscle cross-sectional area and high-energy phosphate bonds reflect the recovery of muscles.