SynthesisLa Radiologia medica2025
Can MRI predict return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction? A systematic review of the literature.
Synthesis in La Radiologia medica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- No Evidence of Superior Graft Remodeling and Maturation When Adding a Lateral Extra-articular Procedure to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.The American journal of sports medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Slower but Not Safer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Return to Play and Graft Re-Rupture After ACL Reconstruction in Professional Soccer Players.Sports medicine - open · 2025Pooled it
- Non-surgical treatment of anterior cruciate ligament tears with percutaneous bone marrow concentrate and platelet products versus exercise therapy: a randomized-controlled, crossover trial with 2-year follow-up.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2025Trial
- Generalized Joint Laxity Is an Independent Predictor of Postoperative Resprain Following Anatomic Reconstruction Using Gracilis Tendon Autograft for Patients With Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Article
- Increased medial anterior tibial translation and reduced tibiofemoral rotation are observed during weight bearing in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees: A paired within-subject imaging analysis.Journal of experimental orthopaedics · 2026Article
- MRI Evaluation of Graft Remodeling After Transphyseal Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Pediatric Patients: A 5-Year Follow-up.Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine · 2026Article
- Radiologic maturation and tunnel changes after all-inside versus standard hamstring ACL reconstruction: a prospective comparative study.La Radiologia medica · 2026Article
- Pediatric ACL Injuries: A Current Concepts Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- AI in Musculoskeletal Imaging: An End-to-End Perspective.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Reliability of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft signal intensity measurement on MRI: a novel method with intra- and interrater analysis over a 1-week interval.Polish journal of radiology · 2026Article
- Biologic Augmentation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Beyond: A Review of PRP and BMAC.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Article
- A novel infrapatellar fat pad preservation technique in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction reduces postoperative pain and cartilage damage: a retrospective study.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Functional Asymmetries After 6 Months of ACL Reconstruction: A Cross-Sectional Study.International wound journal · 2025Article
- Femoral tunnel widening is associated with thigh muscle weakness following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A call for targeted rehabilitation.The Journal of international medical research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeTo analyze whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can predict return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and whether a correlation exists between return to sports, level of activity and MRI signals.
methodsThe search terms selected for inclusion in the title, abstract, and keyword fields were as follows: 'anterior cruciate ligament' OR 'ACL' AND 'graft maturation' OR 'MRI' AND 'return to sport' OR 'sports activity.' For each study, patient data and the MRI protocol used to assess graft maturation were extracted. An analysis of the correlations between MRI and ACL reconstruction was performed.
resultsA total of 394 patients were included from 7 studies. The mean radiological follow-up was 19.06 ± 11.02 months. Three studies reported no correlations between graft bending angle, signal/noise ratio, signal intensity or Howell score and return to sport. One study revealed that T2* was correlated with return to sport. A further investigation demonstrated that those who were able to regain their preinjury athletic performance exhibited considerably lower ACL/PCL ratio and ACL/muscle ratio of the ACL mid-substance compared to those who were unable to attain the same level of athletic performance. Only one study reported correlations between 12-month SNRs and 60-month Cincinnati, Lysholm and Tegner activity scales, whereas Biercevicz revealed that the combination of volume and the SI predicted the KOOS score at the 5-year follow-up.
conclusionsThere are no reliable radiological parameters available that correlate with return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, but MRI can potentially play a key role in closing this gap. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review of level IV. STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO-CRD42024574365.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.