Lower patient-reported function at 2 years is associated with elevated knee cartilage T1rho and T2 relaxation times at 5 years in young athletes after ACL reconstruction

Purpose The purpose was to test the following hypotheses: (1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of early knee cartilage degeneration would be present in the involved limb of young athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and (2) poor knee function would be associated with MRI markers of cartilage degeneration.