When it involves the posterior root, medial root tears are easier to diagnose than lateral root tears. sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) images. Thus, the loss of the lateral meniscus can often lead to rather rapid onset of osteoarthritis. A previous study by De Smet et al. The menisci are C-shaped fibrocartilaginous structures composed of radial and circumferential collagen fibers that have several roles, including joint stabilization, load distribution, articular cartilage protection and joint lubrication. This emphasizes the importance of baseline MRI comparison for evaluation of the postoperative meniscus.3. Additionally, the postoperative complication of new extensive synovitis is apparent on the axial view (18D). Meniscal extrusion. Medical search. Web hypoplastic meniscus was not the cause of the patients pain, suggesting Report The posterior cruciate ligament is intact. The meniscus may also become hypertrophic. Collagen fibers are arranged for transferring compressive loads into circumferential hoop stresses, secured by radially oriented tie fibers. Materials and methods . A 510, 210-pound 16-year-old male injured his left knee while kicking a football. an adult), and approximately twice the size of the anterior horn on Mechanical rasping or trephination of the torn meniscus ends and parameniscal synovium is used to promote bleeding and vascular healing. Financial Disclosure: None of the authors or planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, reselling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. menisci develop from this mesenchymal tissue in a site where this tissue Fat supressed coronal proton density-weighted (19C, D) and sagittal proton density-weighted (19E) images demonstrate postoperative changes from interval posterior horn partial meniscectomy with a thin rim of posterior horn remaining (arrow) and subchondral fractures in the medial femoral condyle and medial tibial plateau (arrowheads) with marked progression of full-thickness chondral loss in the medial compartment and extruded meniscal tissue. History of longitudinal medial meniscus tear managed by meniscal repair (arrows). varus deformity (Figure 3). Kim EY, Choi SH, Ahn JH, Kwon JW. no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose. meniscus is partial meniscal excision, leaving a 6- to 7-mm peripheral Extrusion is commonly seen following root repair. In this section, the major patterns of tears are described and depicted in MRIs and arthroscopy images. Tears We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias A 23-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of catching and pain in the knee when arising from a squatting position. instance, tears of the lateral aspect of the anterior horn of the The patient underwent a successful partial medial meniscectomy and was encouraged to seek low-impact exercise. Intensity of signal contacting meniscal surface in recurrent tears on MR arthrography compared with that of contrast material. the intercondylar notch, most commonly to the mid ACL, and less commonly is in fact reducing the volume of the meniscus and restoring a normal Conventional MRI imaging correlates well with arthroscopic evaluation of the transplants for tears of the posterior and middle thirds of the meniscus allograft with a high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, but results were poor for evaluation of the anterior third with a low specificity and accuracy.16 Allograft shrinkage and meniscus extrusion are common findings on postoperative MRI but do not always correlate with patient pain and function. They maintain a relatively constant distance from the periphery of the meniscus [. The patient underwent an all-inside lateral meniscus repair. Surgical Outcomes Lysholm Score Most patients are asymptomatic, but injury to the meniscus can However, recognizing these variants is important, as they can Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) arthrography are both well suited for evaluation of these lesions though somewhat limited by cost and access for MRI and by invasiveness for CT arthrography . posterior fascicles and meniscotibial ligament are absent and a high By continuing to use our site, you consent to the use of cookies outlined in our Privacy Policy. It affects 4% to 5% of the patient population,6-9 with a much higher incidence, up to 13%, in the Asian patient population.10 It is the most common meniscal variant in children.11 (PubMed: 17114506), BakerJC, FriedmanMV, RubinDA (2018) Imaging the postoperative knee meniscus: an evidence-based review. 1991;7(3):297-300. On MRI, they resemble radial tears, with a linear cleft of abnormal signal seen at the free edge. Diagnosis of recurrent meniscal tears: prospective evaluation of conventional MR imaging, indirect MR arthrography, and direct MR arthrography. (Tr. Repair techniques include side-to-side repair, stabilization with suture anchors, and the transtibial pull-out technique (figure 4).12. It is located in the lateral portion of the knee interior of the knee joint. Controlling Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Could Lower Dementia Risk, Researchers Address HIV Treatment Gap Among Underserved Population, HHS Announces Reorganization of Office for Civil Rights, FDA Adopts Flu-Like Plan for an Annual COVID Vaccine. Exam showed a mild effusion and medial joint line tenderness. The sagittal proton density-weighted image (2A) demonstrates increased signal intensity at the periphery of the medial meniscus posterior horn (arrow) but no fluid signal on the sagittal T2-weighted image (2B) and no gadolinium extension into this area on the MR arthrogram sagittal fat-suppressed T1-weighted arthrographic image (2C) consistent with a healed repair. described in thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome (TAR syndrome).2,3 Bilateral hypoplasia of the medial meniscus has also been reported.4. 3 is least common. The most common ; Lee, S.H. Both the healed peripheral tear and the new central tear were proved at second look arthroscopy. separate the cavity. Lee S, Jee W, Kim J. We will review the common meniscal variants, which discoid meniscus, although discoid medial menisci can occur much less of the AIMM into the ACL is classified as Type 1 (inferior third), Type 2 ISAKOS: 2023 Congress in Boston, USA : Abstract Analysis of Risk To assess the prevalence of meniscal extrusion and its . CT arthrography is a recommended alternative for patients who are not MR eligible. Disadvantages include risks associated with joint injection, radiation exposure and lower contrast resolution compared to MRI, particularly in the extraarticular soft tissues. A tear of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus is damage to the front part of one of the two structures that act as shock absorbers between the thigh bone and the lower leg, explains The Steadman Clinic. Considered a feature of knee osteoarthritis. Synopsis: In a consecutive series of nearly 1000 knee MRIs, there was a 74% false-positive rate for the diagnosis of anterior horn meniscal tears. The examiner can test the entire posterior horn up to the middle segment of the meniscus using the IR of the tibia followed by an extension. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. This mesenchymal Best assessed on T2 weighted sequences. Definite surfacing signal or distortion on only one image represents a possible tear. intra-articular structures at 8 weeks gestation. Belcher v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 1:2020cv01894 Meniscal Roots: Current Concepts Review How I Diagnose Meniscal Tears on Knee MRI. 5. Surgery is useful if they are unstable and flipping in and out of the joint causing pain. Grades 1 and 2 are not considered serious. As a result, the accuracy rate of diagnosis by MRI is 83.3%. insertion of the medial meniscus (AIMM) has been described, and it is Get unlimited access to our full publication and article library. 1). The MRI revealed a longitudinal tear in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. AJR American journal of roentgenology. While they can arise from a number of mechanisms, root tears are generally thought to be chronic 5. The prevalence of a medial discoid meniscus in patients with AIMM Normal course and intensity of both cruciate ligaments. However, many clinicians opt to use conventional MRI as the initial postoperative imaging study and reserve MR arthrography for equivocal cases. of the distal femur and proximal tibia, and in the case report of Is sport activity possible after arthroscopic meniscal allograft transplantation? Conventional MRI is useful for evaluation of posterior root morphology at the tibial tunnel fixation site, meniscal extrusion and articular cartilage. On the fat-supressed proton density-weighted coronal (17A) and axial (17B) images, notice the trapazoidal shaped bone bridge (arrow) placed in the tibial slot with menscal allograft attached at the anterior and posterior roots. found that the absence of a line of increased signal through the meniscus extending to the articular surface on proton density and T2-weighted images was a reliable MRI finding for an untorn post-operative meniscus with 100% sensitivity. Youderian A, Chmell S, Stull MA. Congenital discoid cartilage. Regardless of the imaging protocol chosen for evaluation of the postoperative meniscus, optimal imaging interpretation includes: The normal MRI appearance after partial meniscectomy is volume loss and morphologic change, commonly truncation or blunting of the meniscal free edge. The avulsed anterior horn of the lateral meniscus is flipped over and situated above the posterior horn. Complete radial tears, root tears and large partial meniscectomies result in markedly increased contact forces at the articular surface; and in this case, full-thickness chondral loss and subchondral fractures on both sides of the joint. The anomalous insertion They may not even be apparent with an arthroscopic examination. Root tears are associated with a high risk for osteoarthritis. Cho JM, Suh JS, Na JB, et al. These include looking for a 2006; 187:W565568. Zonal variation is also seen in the density of meniscus cells and their phenotypes with a chondrocytic inner zone and fibroblastic outer zone. The shape of the meniscus is formed at the eighth week of Of the anterior horn tears read on MRI, 85% involved the lateral meniscus anterior horn and about one half were judged to extend into the middle or body of the same meniscus. The post arthrogram view (13B) reveals gadolinium within the repair site. The fat-suppressed sagittal T1-weighted post arthrogram view (7C) demonstrates gadolinium extending into the meniscal substance. MRI plays a critical role in influencing the treatment decision and enables information that would obviate unnecessary surgery including diagnostic arthroscopy. Among these 26 studies of an LMRT . Copy. In the U.S., intraarticular injection of gadolinium-based contrast is off label. A preliminary report, Principles and decision making in meniscal surgery, The Anterior Meniscofemoral Ligament of the Medial Meniscus, Accurate patient history including site and duration of symptoms, Garrett WE Jr, Swiontkowski MF, Weinstein JN, et al. Ross JA,Tough ICK, English TA. Normal menisci. Dickhaut SC, DeLee JC. What is your diagnosis? ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads. The Journal of bone and joint surgery American volume. Am J Sports Med 2010; 38:15421548, LaPrade RF, Matheny LM, Moulton SG, James EW, Dean CS. Diagnosis - clinical presentation with exclusion of advanced knee osteoarthritis. Long-term outcome after arthroscopic meniscal repair versus arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for traumatic meniscal tears. These features constitute O'Donoghue unhappy triad. Results: Arthroscopic examination of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus in all 22 patients was normal. The MRI sign of a radial tear is a linear, vertical cleft of abnormal high signal at the free edge (Fig. The Knee Resource | Degenerative Meniscus Tear A detached posterior root is functionally equivalent to a total meniscectomy with loss of its ability to withstand hoop stress. Repair techniques include inside-out, outside-in or all-inside approaches. pivoting). The discoid lateral-meniscus syndrome. with mechanical features of clicking and locking. mobility, and a giving-way sensation.11, 15, 16 A high percentage of cases present with an associated meniscal tear and peripheral rim instability.9,16,17 Although discoid lateral meniscus is commonly bilateral, symptoms tend to occur on one side.15 It is characterized by an excess of meniscal tissue with a slab-like configuration in the 2 most common forms (Figure 5). What are the findings? The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic values involved in conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of MM posterior root tears (MMPRTs) and find other MRI-based findings in patients with partial MMPRTs. Case 9: posterior root of medial meniscus, View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures, see full revision history and disclosures, anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture, posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture, Ahlback classification system in assessing osteoarthritis of the knee joint, Kellgren and Lawrence system for classification of osteoarthritis, anterior cruciate ligament mucoid degeneration, MRI grading system for meniscal signal intensity, shortening or absence of the root on sagittal images, vertical fluid cleft on coronal fluid-sensitive (T2) images. The location of meniscal tears or signal alterations (anterior/posterior horn or body of the medial/lateral meniscus) and the grade (normal/intra-substance signal abnormality = 0 and tear = 1) were determined on 2D . Radial Tear of the Medial Meniscal Root: Reliability and Accuracy of MRI for Diagnosis. This case is almost identical to the previous case with a different clinical history. In this case, we can determine that there is a new tear in a different location. This injury is biomechanically comparable to a total meniscectomy, leading to compromised hoop stressesresulting in decreased tibiofemoral contact area and increased contact pressures in the involved compartment.These changes are detrimental to the articular cartilage and . partly divides a joint cavity, unlike articular discs, which completely An abnormal shape may indicate a meniscal tear or a partial meniscectomy. Discoid lateral meniscus of the knee joint: Nature, mechanism, and operative treatment. 800-688-2421. In cases like this, MR arthrography is quite helpful. Congenital absence of the meniscus is extremely rare and has been documented in TAR syndrome and in isolated case reports.2,3 MRI has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting meniscus tears in patients without prior knee surgery. Normal 15 year old patient with prior extensive lateral partial meniscectomy was treated with lateral chondroplasty and lateral meniscal allograft transplant with continued pain and clicking 6 weeks post-operative. (Figure 1). Clinical History: An 18 year-old male with a history of a posterior horn medial meniscus peripheral longitudinal tear treated with meniscal repair at age 16 presents for MR imaging. The patient failed conservative management of aspiration and cortisone injection. Relevant clinical history, prior imaging and use of operative reports will significantly improve accuracy of post-operative interpretations. The knee is a complex synovial joint that can be affected by a range of pathologies: ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads, Please Note: You can also scroll through stacks with your mouse wheel or the keyboard arrow keys. How I Diagnose Meniscal Tears on Knee MRI : American Journal of The intrameniscal ligament where it diverges from the back of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus is also a common area misinterpreted as a tear. Pathology - a tear that has developed gradually in the meniscus. If a horizontal tear involves a long segment of the meniscus, the central fragment may displace centrally from the peripheral portion of the meniscus [, Bucket handle tears (BHT) often cause pain and mechanical symptoms, such as locking, catching, and giving way [. Kijowski et al. Samoto N, Kozuma M, Tokuhisa T, Kobayashi K. Diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus of the knee on MR imaging. However, the use of MRI arthrography should be considered for post-operative menisci with equivocal findings on conventional MRI as the presence of high gadolinium-like signal within the meniscus would allow for a definitive diagnosis of re-tear. Source: Shepard MF, et al. Figure 8: Medial oblique menisco-meniscal . ligament, and the posterior horn may translate or rotate due to Am J Sports Med 2016; 44:625632, De Smet AA, Horak DM, Davis KW, Choi JJ. The medial meniscus is more tightly anchored than the lateral meniscus, allowing for approximately 5mm of anterior-posterior translation. No meniscal tear is seen, but the root attachment was also noted to be Coronal extrusion of the lateral meniscus does not increase after Fukuta S, Masaki K, Korai F. Prevalence of abnormal findings in magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic knees. Longitudinal medial meniscus tear managed by repair (arrow). Recent evidence suggests that decreased extrusion may correlate to better clinical outcomes.18. There was no history of a specific knee injury. Comparison of Postoperative Antibiotic Regimens for Complex Appendicitis: Is Two Days as Good as Five Days? The most commonly practiced 1 ). measurements of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus may vary, but What is a Grade 3 meniscus tear? Pre-operative fat supressed coronal proton density-weighted image (19A) demonstates a posterior root radial tear (arrow). Because this is a relatively new procedure, few studies have been dedicated to MRI evaluation of postoperative root repair. Choi S, Bae S, Ji S, Chang M. The MRI Findings of Meniscal Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus: Emphasis on Coronal, Sagittal and Axial Images. 9 The lateral meniscus is more loosely attached than the medial and can translate approximately 11mm with normal knee motion. MRI of the knee is commonly indicated for evaluation of unresolved or recurrent knee pain following meniscal surgery. Anterior Horn Meniscal Repair Using an Outside-In Suture Technique of the Wrisberg ligament in patients with a complete lateral discoid Normal shape and signal of the horns of the medial meniscus, with no evidence of tears or degenerations seen. 5 In the first instance, tears of the lateral aspect of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus are extremely uncommon and should not be a diagnostic In some patients, hyperintense signal may persist at the repair site on conventional MRI for several years and is thought to represent granulation tissue. Meniscal surgery is common and requires accurate post-operative imaging interpretation to guide the treatment approach. De Smet A. We use cookies to create a better experience. Pinar H, Akseki D, Karaoglan O, et al. MRI c spine / head jxn - they can have stenosis of foramen magnum . Special thanks to David Rubin, MD for providing several cases used in this web clinic. Discoid lateral meniscus: importance, diagnosis, and treatment According to these authors, increased signal to the surface on only one slice should be interpreted as a possible tear. Cases of only one abnormal slice correlated to tears at arthroscopy 55 % of the time for the medial meniscus and 30 % for the lateral [, Accuracy of diagnosing meniscus tear with these criteria has been good. snapping knee due to hypermobility. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 04 Mar 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-75066. The posterior root of the lateral meniscus (PRLM) attaches along the posterior aspect of the intercondylar eminence of the tibia (Fig. Surgery Needed?? : r/MeniscusInjuries On this page: Article: Epidemiology Pathology Radiographic features History and etymology proximal medial tibia was convex and the distal medial femoral condyle The medial meniscus covers 60% of the medial compartment. Of the anterior horn tears read on MRI, 85% involved the lateral meniscus anterior horn and about one half were judged to extend into the middle or body of the same meniscus. What Is a Tear of the Anterior Horn of the Lateral Meniscus? The condition is typically asymptomatic and, therefore, is infrequently diagnosed.14 ligament will help to exclude these conditions.5 In the first Tachibana Y, Yamazaki Y, Ninomiya S. Discoid medial meniscus. Sagittal proton density (PD) images through normal medial (, The medial meniscus is larger, more oblong, and normally has a larger posterior horn than anterior horn in cross section. 4). Discoid medial menisci are much less common than discoid lateral menisci,24 and they may be bilateral. Associated anomalies in a discoid medial patella or Hoffas fat pad, and should be fairly easily differentiated What is anterior horn of meniscus? - KnowledgeBurrow.com There are 3 main types, according to the Watanabe classification:18. The tear was treated by partial meniscectomy at second surgery. These findings are also frequently associated with genu History of medial meniscus posterior horn partial meniscectomy. Schwenke M, Singh M, Chow B Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Meniscal Tears: A Multi-modality Review. Tolo VT. Congenital absence of the menisci and cruciate ligaments of the knee: A case report. Bilateral Hypoplasia of the Medial and Lateral Menisci - PMC small meniscus is also seen in the wrist joint. The anterior and posterior meniscofemoral ligaments (Humphrey and Wrisberg respectively) are commonly present with one or both found in 93-100% of patients. On MRI, they exhibit abnormal horizontal linear signal contacting the inferior articular surface near the free edge or less commonly the superior surface. gestation, about the time when the knee joint is fully formed.1 Throughout fetal development, they found that the size of the lateral meniscus is highly variable, unlike the medial meniscus. The self-reported complication rate for partial meniscectomy is 2.8% and meniscus repair is 7.6%. The speckled appearance of the anterior horn of lateral meniscus is a feature that can be seen as a normal variant on MRI knee scans. 3. A tear was found and the repair was revised at second look arthroscopy. If the tear does not show, it is considered a Grade 1 or 2 and is not as serious. Pullout fixation of posterior medial meniscus root tears: correlation between meniscus extrusion and midterm clinical results. Problems encountered in a discoid medial meniscus are the same as a For root tears in general, sagittal imaging may demonstrate a meniscal ghost sign. They often tend to be radial tears extending into the meniscal root. 2012;20(10):2098-103. frequently. MRI Findings: Medial meniscus: Tear of the posterior horn seen to the inferior articular surface continuing into the posterior body and becoming more vertical. Indications for a partial meniscectomy include meniscal tears not amenable to repair which includes non-peripheral tears with a horizontal, oblique or complex tear pattern and nontraumatic tears in older patients. Meniscal disorders: Normal, discoid, and cysts. of the transverse ligament is comparable to the general population.5. (middle third), or Type 3 (superior third; intercondylar notch) (Figure Lateral Meniscus Root Tear and Meniscus Extrusion with Anterior Sagittal T2-weighted (16A), fat-suppressed proton density-weighted sagittal (16B) and coronal (16C, D) images demonstrate findings of a posterior root transtibial pullout repair with visualization of the tibial tunnel (arrow), susceptibility artifact caused by the endobutton (asterisk) and fraying of the posterior root (arrowhead) but no tear. A tear of the ACL should also, in practice, not be a Meniscal root tear. Total meniscectomy is rarely performed unless the meniscus is so severely damaged that no salvageable meniscal tissue remains. As visualized on sagittal MR images, the anterior horn of the medial meniscus is shorter than the posterior horn, whereas the anterior and posterior horns of the lateral meniscus are of equal length. Concise, to-the-point text covers MRI for the entire musculoskeletal system, presented in a highly templated format. The lateral . At the time the article was last revised Yahya Baba had . the menisci of the knees. Efficacy of Arthroscopic Treatment for Concurrent Medial Meniscus The lateral meniscus is produced by the varus tension and tibial IR. Meniscus tears are either degenerative or acute. Stein T, Mehling AP, Welsch F, von EisenhartRothe R, Jger A. collapse and widening of the medial joint space (Figure 7). meniscus | Search | Radiopaedia.org Findings indicate an intact meniscus following partial meniscectomy with normal intrameniscal signal. Meniscus repair is superior to partial meniscectomy in preventing osteoarthritis and facilitating return to athletic activity.11 However, the period of postoperative immobilization and activity restriction associated with meniscus repair is longer than that associated with partial meniscectomy and requires a compliant, motivated patient to be successful. MR arthrogram fat-suppressed sagittal T1-weighted image (11C) shows no gadolinium in the repair. They found that 76 (8%) of these indicated a tear of the anterior horn of either the medial or lateral meniscus. meniscus are not uncommon; they include an anomalous insertion of the This article focuses on Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an elongated free edge of the diffusely enlarged lateral meniscus extending toward the intercondylar region on coronal T1-weighted images (Figure 1A). Sagittal PD (. MR criteria are used to make the diagnosis. On medial posterior root tears there is often 2: On posterior root radial tears of the lateral meniscus, the appearance may be similar to radial tears in other locations. Because most meniscal tears are not isolated to the red zone, it is understandable that most meniscal surgeries are partial meniscectomies which aim to restore meniscus stability while preserving as much native meniscal tissue as possible, to decrease the risk of osteoarthritis.