When Does Quadriceps ACL Graft Mature? - Summary - MDSpire

When Does Quadriceps ACL Graft Mature?

MRI data show quadriceps ACL graft signal normalizes by 12 months.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • January 14, 2026

  • 3 min

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Objective:

To evaluate the maturation of quadriceps tendon autografts following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using MRI signal intensity measurements.

Key Findings:
  • Quadriceps tendon autografts showed significantly elevated MRI signal intensity at 3 and 6 months post-surgery.
  • By 12 months, the signal intensity of the grafts was not significantly different from the native ACL.
  • The most pronounced signal intensity differences were observed in the proximal portion of the graft.
Interpretation:

The study indicates that quadriceps tendon autografts undergo significant early changes in signal intensity, reflecting maturation, which aligns with the healing timeline of the native ACL.

Limitations:
  • Absence of histologic validation limited direct assessment of tissue-level remodeling.
  • Small, predominantly female cohort restricts generalizability to older populations and other graft types.
  • Signal intensity measures were dependent on imaging sequence and scanner.
  • Manual segmentation may have introduced variability in measurements.
  • Clinical outcomes were not assessed alongside imaging findings.
Conclusion:

Quadriceps tendon autografts demonstrate a maturation pattern that approaches native ACL characteristics by 12 months, with early signal intensity changes predominantly in the proximal graft region.

Original Source(s)

When Does Quadriceps ACL Graft Mature?

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • January 14, 2026

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