Commentary: Correlation between trochlear dysplasia and anterior cruciate ligament injury.

ligament (ACL) injury are common injuries and can lead to devastating consequences if not treated appropriately. Their mechanism of injury is similar, namely, a valgus twisting injury as a result of sudden non-contact deceleration. Those at risk also share similar epidemiological and anatomical characteristics; they tend to be female, have ligamentous laxity, and be young, active adults, with dysplastic intercondylar and trochlear notches. Concurrent injuries are common: osteochondral defects and medial patellofemoral ligament tears are associated with APD,1–3 and mensical and collateral ligament tears are associated with ACL injury. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard to diagnose these injuries and to differentiate patients that warrant surgery as opposed to conservative treatment. A large study in New Zealand estimated the incidence of ACL injuries to be 36.9 per 100 000 person-years.4 ACL injury is possibly associated with a narrow intercondylar notch, particularly in females. Nonetheless, controversies exist as to the mechanism; whether a narrow notch leads to impingement and attritional rupture or whether a narrow notch means a smaller and more vulnerable ACL remains unknown. Anterior knee pain has many possible causes. It is associated with trochlear dysplasia on MRI.5 The Commentary: Correlation between trochlear dysplasia and anterior cruciate ligament injury