To investigate the correlation between anterior cruciate ligament injury and the bone contusion in the posterior of tibial plateau and the risk factors of it.

Data of patients with knee trauma who came to our hospital from Oct. 2017 to Nov. 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There are 100 males and 55 females with an average age of 40.0±10.6 years (range, 18-60). Bone contusion in the posterior tibial plateauand anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament and fibula injury were evaluated through imaging data, and injury mechanism, age, sex and the side of injury were collected from medical records. The effect of events on bone contusion in the posterior of tibial plateau was analyzed.

Bone contusion occurred in 92 of the 155 patients (56 males and 36 females), with an average age of 39.6±10.5 years (range, 19-55 years). There were 45 cases on right knee and 47 cases on the left side. ACL injury: ACL was completely ruptured in 42 cases, partially ruptured in 34 cases, and had no injury in 16 cases. There were 18 cases with PCL injury, and 74 cases without any injury. There were 57 cases of non-contact injury, and 35 cases of contact injury. There were 57 cases with fibular head injury, and 35 cases without. There were 44 cases with MCL injury, and 48 cases without. There were 13 cases with LCL injury, and 79 cases without. ACL injury degree (χ²=18.345, P<0.05) and the head of fibula (χ²=5.495, P<0.05) injury were significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant difference in male ratio (χ²=1.315, P>0.05), knee side (χ²=0.880, P>0.05), injury mechanism (χ²=3.467, P>0.05), age (t=0.664, P>0.05), LCL (χ²=0.010, P>0.05)、MCL (χ²=0.029, P>0.05) and PCL (χ²=0.161, P>0.05). ACL injury was an independent risk factor for bone contusion in the posterior of tibial plateau (P<0.05) and the injury of fibula head was an independent risk factor for the formation of bone contusion in the posterior of tibial plateau (P<0.05) according to logistic analysis. The possibility of bone contusion on the posterior tibial plateau in ACL complete injury was significantly greater than that of ACL partial injury (OR=2.695, P=0.021).

The injury of ACL and fibula head are independent risk factors for the bone contusion in posterior of tibial plateau; ACL complete injury is more likely to be associated with posterior tibial plateau bone contusion than ACL partial injury.

Anterior cruciate ligament; Knee injuries; Risk factors