Atlas of Signs in Musculoskeletal Radiology is approved by the ARRS (American Roentgen Ray Society) and is included in AJR Webreview

A. Gentili,MD, M. Beller, MD, S. Masih, MD, L.L. Seeger, MD

Diagnosis:

ACL Tear

Discussion:

The deep lateral femoral notch (sulcus) sign is used as a secondary sign of ACL tear. The increased depth of the lateral femoral sulcus in patients with an ACL tear is due to impacted fracture, similar to a Hill-Sachs lesion of the humerus. This impaction occurs when the tibia becomes displaced anteriorly and the lateral femoral sulcus pushes against the posterior rim of the tibial plateau, causing an indentation in the femoral condyle. It is measured by drawing a line drawn tangential to the articular surface of the femoral condyle. This line is used as a reference and the depth of the sulcus is measured perpendicular to this line. Abnormally increased depth is known as the deep lateral femoral notch (sulcus).

References:

Atlas of Signs in Musculoskeletal Radiology is approved by the ARRS (American Roentgen Ray Society) and is included in AJR Webreview

A. Gentili,MD, M. Beller, MD, S. Masih, MD, L.L. Seeger, MD