We sought to design a computer-assisted system measuring the anterior tibial translation in stress radiography, evaluate its diagnostic performance for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, and assess factors affecting the diagnostic accuracy. Retrospective research for patients with both knee stress radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at our institution was performed. A complete ACL rupture was confirmed on an MRI. The anterior tibial translations with four different methods were measured in 249 patients by the designed algorithm. The diagnostic accuracy of each method in patients with all successful measurements was evaluated. Univariate logistic regression analysis for factors affecting diagnostic accuracy of method four was performed. In the inclusive 249 patients, 177 patients (129 with completely torn ACLs) were available for analysis. Mean anterior tibial translations were significantly increased in the patients with a completely torn ACL by all four methods, with diagnostic accuracies ranging from 66.7% to 75.1%. The diagnostic accuracy of method four was negatively associated with the time interval between stress radiography and MRI as well as force-joint distance on stress view, and not significantly associated with age, gender, flexion angle, intercondylar distance, and force-joint angle. A computer-assisted system measuring the anterior tibial translation in stress radiography showed acceptable diagnostic performance of complete ACL injury. A shorter time interval between stress radiography and MRI as well as shorter force-joint distance were associated with higher diagnostic accuracy.
Keywords: ACL; anterior cruciate ligament; computer-aided diagnosis; knee; stress radiography.