Meniscal tear and increased tibial plateau bone area in healthy post-menopausal women

OBJECTIVE: Meniscal tears detected using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been identified as a risk factor for the development and progression of Osteoarthritis, however the prevalence and significance of meniscal tears in healthy, asymptomatic adults remains to be studied. We investigated the prevalence of meniscal tears in a healthy pain free population of post-menopausal women and whether meniscal tears in this population are associated with changes in cartilage volume and defects and tibial plateau bone area over 2 years. METHODS: Fifty-seven post-menopausal women underwent MRI of their dominant knee at baseline line and approximately 2 years later to assess meniscal tears, cartilage volume, cartilage defects and tibial plateau bone area. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of women had a meniscal tear in either the medial and/or lateral compartment. Women who had a tear were older (P=0.01) and had more lateral cartilage defects (P=0.02). Medial meniscal tear was associated with 103 mm(2) greater tibial plateau bone area within the medial [95% confidence of interval (CI) 6.2, 200.3; P=0.04] and a lateral meniscal tear with a 120 mm(2) greater area within the lateral compartment (95% CI 45.5, 195.2; P=0.002). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that meniscal tears are common in asymptomatic post-menopausal women and that they become more common with age. Meniscal tears were also associated with greater tibial plateau bone area but not cartilage volume, providing support to the hypothesis that tibial plateau bone changes occur before significant pathological changes in cartilage. Whether increased tibial plateau bone area predisposes to an increased risk of degenerative meniscal tears or whether it is a consequence of altered biomechanical forces in relation to meniscal tear will need to be determined.     

All-inside meniscal repair surgery: factors affecting the outcome

BackgroundMeniscal injury is currently a well-recognized source of knee dysfunction. While it would be ideal to repair all meniscus tears, the failure rate is significantly high, although it may be reduced by careful selection of the patients. Our objective was to assess the outcome of meniscal repair surgery and the role of simultaneous reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).Results136 Meniscal repairs were performed in 122 patients with a mean age of 26.8 years. Mean follow-up duration was 9 months. 63 % of the patients underwent medial and 37 % underwent lateral meniscal repair, with failure rates of 19 % for medial and 12 % for lateral menisci. Ligament injuries were found in 61 % of the patients (n = 83). Failure of meniscal repair occurred in 14.5 % (n = 12) of the patients who had early ACL reconstruction and in 27 % (n = 22) of the patients who had delayed ACL reconstruction (p = 0.0006). The failure rate was found to be 13 % in patients who were younger than 25 years (61 %) and 15 % in patients who were older than 25 years (39 %).ConclusionThe success rate of meniscal repair was found to be significantly better when ACL reconstruction was performed simultaneously with meniscal repair.

Level of evidence

Level IV.     

Meniscal Root Repair Along with Auxiliary Procedures for Joint Preservation: Current Concepts

Meniscal root repair and joint preservation surgeries have gained increased interest in the last decade, from a better interpretation of the role of meniscal functions, from the biomechanical studies. Several published results from both biomechanical and clinical studies has proven the effectiveness of meniscal root repairs and has led to a unanimous international consensus for the need for root repair surgery. Meniscal repair by suture pull-out technique is widely followed around the world and leads to adequate healing and good clinical outcome. There are auxiliary procedures like centralization sutures (to reduce the meniscal extrusion), high tibial osteotomy, cartilage repair procedures, meniscal root reconstruction and ligament reconstructions are performed along with meniscal root repair, especially in the younger patients and recently sub-chondroplasty for the bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are also executed. This review article discusses the anatomy, types of root tears, evaluation, treatment, outcomes of root repair, and the need for additional procedures, which are imperative for joint preservation and restoration of the biomechanics of the knee.     

Kinematic I and Oxford knee arthroplasty: A 5–8-year follow-up study

Sixty-seven consecutive Oxford Meniscal total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were compared prospectively with 66 Kinematic I TKAs. At follow-up examination an average of 5.5 (range, 5-8) years later, 20 (30%) of the Oxford Meniscal TKAs had been revised (nine due to aseptic loosenings, seven to aseptic loosening and patellofemoral syndrome, two to patellofemoral syndrome, one to meniscal bearing dislocation, and one to sepsis) and in 16% one or more of the remaining tibial components was radiographically at risk. Three (5%) Kinematic I TKAs had been reoperated upon (one for anterior dislocation, one for a loose patellar component, and one for sepsis) and no component was considered radiographically at risk. The remaining cases demonstrated good and excellent knee ratings (Oxford, 82 +/- 11; Kinematic I, 88 +/- 6; P less than .01; Hospital for Special Surgery). This study suggests that the results of Kinematic I TKA are superior to those of Oxford Meniscal TKA; that patellofemoral resurfacing is advisable; and that Kinematic I TKA yields 5-year data comparable to those of total hip arthroplasty.     

膝关节半月板囊肿104例临床特点分析

目的探讨膝关节半月板囊肿的临床发病特点。方法回顾性分析2001年1月～2007年12月104例膝关节半月板囊肿患者的临床资料。对性别和年龄分布、创伤因素、临床表现、囊肿性状、合并半月板损伤等进行研究。结果膝关节半月板手术共计5986例,其中半月板囊肿104例（1.7%）,内、外侧半月板囊肿的发生比为1∶12（8∶96）。年龄（30.7±12.2）岁（13～65岁）,男女比为1.2∶1。60例（57.7%）有创伤史,创伤因素中以运动伤最多见（32例）,运动项目主要为足球（11例）和篮球（8例）。临床表现主要为疼痛（102例,98.1%）和局部肿物（50例,48.1%）,查体可及关节隙压痛（85例,81.7%）和突起（79例,76.0%）,可伴半月板损伤的体征。内侧半月板囊肿多见于半月板的体后部和后角（5/8,62.5%）,外侧半月板囊肿以前角至体部多见（88/96,91.7%）（χ^2=15.167,P=0.000）,半月板损伤以含有层裂的复合裂（52/104,50.0%）及单纯层裂（25/104,24.0%）最多见,盘状半月板合并囊肿占5.8%（6/104）。结论膝关节半月板囊肿发生率较低,多数发生在外侧半月板,发病原因主要有半月板损伤和黏液样退变两种。内侧半月板囊肿多见于体后部,外侧半月板囊肿多见于前体部,大多数合并半月板层裂损伤。     

Meniscal damage associated with increased local subchondral bone mineral density: a Framingham study

OBJECTIVE: Because menisci and the medial vs lateral tibial plateau bone mineral density ratio (M:L BMD) are associated with loading within the knee, we postulated there to be an association between compartment-specific meniscal damage and M:L BMD. We hypothesized that knees with higher M:L BMD, consistent with increased medial subchondral BMD, would be associated with medial meniscal damage, and lower ratios with lateral meniscal damage. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study evaluating participants in the Framingham Osteoarthritis Cohort having magnetic resonance images (MRIs), BMDs, and x-rays of the knee. Medial and lateral meniscal damage were defined on MRI. We performed a logistic regression with medial meniscal damage as the outcome testing M:L BMD groups as predictor variables. We adjusted for age and sex; we used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to adjust for correlation between knees. Identical analyses were performed evaluating lateral meniscal damage. RESULTS: When evaluating the relation of M:L BMD to medial meniscal damage, the odds ratios (ORs) of prevalent medial meniscal damage from lowest to highest quartile of M:L BMD were 1.0 (referent), 1.9, 2.4 and 8.9, P for trend <0.0001. When evaluating the relation of M:L BMD to lateral meniscal damage, the ORs of prevalent lateral meniscal damage from lowest to highest quartile of M:L BMD were 1.0 (referent), 0.3, 0.2, and 0.2, P for trend = 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Meniscal damage is associated with higher regional tibial BMD in the same compartment. Our findings highlight the close relationship between meniscal integrity and regional tibial subchondral BMD.     

膝关节碘水造影对半月板损伤的诊断价值

目的和方法:本文回顾分析1992年2月～1994年4月,41例半月板损伤患者的膝关节造影结果并与关节镜做对比。结果:膝关节造影对内侧半月板准确率85.4％,外侧半月板准确率65.9％。结论:膝关节造影对内侧半月板损伤能提供精确的诊断,其准确率可接近MRI。     

Bilateral bucket handle medial meniscal tears of the knee: A case report

INTRODUCTIONMeniscal tears may cause knee pain and functional impairment. Bilateral bucket-handle meniscal tears is an uncommon condition.PRESENTATION OF CASEThis report presents the case of a 35-year-old male patient with bilateral bucket handle medial meniscal tears that occurred nonsimultaneously. The lesions were treated arthroscopically with partial resection in one knee and meniscal suture in the other.DISCUSSIONBucket handle meniscal tear of meniscus without underlying meniscal, ligamentous pathology or lower limb deformity is a rare condition.CONCLUSIONTo our knowledge, bilateral bucket handle medial meniscal tears without underlying meniscal anomalies have been reported in only two cases before, and our case is the third one.     

Editorial Commentary: Medial Meniscal Root Repair May Not Be Required During Knee Medial-Compartment Unloading High Tibial Osteotomy

Medial meniscal root tears are biomechanically similar to a total meniscectomy. Repair is clinically indicated and supported by evidence. Increased contact pressures can result in cartilage degeneration and early onset of osteoarthritis. Once diffuse grade 3 or 4 osteoarthritis has settled in, repair may not be indicated anymore. Combining medial meniscal root repair with a high tibial osteotomy for grade 3 or 4 medial-compartment osteoarthritis is not beneficial, and osteotomy alone provides very similar clinical outcomes at 2 years. Meniscal healing was observed in only 18% of patients, and the rate of “cartilage recovery” during second-look arthroscopy was between 8% and 24%. The low sample size, short follow-up, and historical control group limit the validity and generalizability of these conclusions.     

Treatment of meniscal tears: An evidence based approach

Treatment options for meniscal tears fall into three broad categories; non-operative, meniscectomy or meniscal repair. Selecting the most appropriate treatment for a given patient involves both patient factors (e.g., age, co-morbidities and compliance) and tear characteristics (e.g., location of tear/age/reducibility of tear). There is evidence suggesting that degenerative tears in older patients without mechanical symptoms can be effectively treated non-operatively with a structured physical therapy programme as a first line. Even if these patients later require meniscectomy they will still achieve similar functional outcomes than if they had initially been treated surgically. Partial meniscectomy is suitable for symptomatic tears not amenable to repair, and can still preserve meniscal function especially when the peripheral meniscal rim is intact. Meniscal repair shows 80% success at 2 years and is more suitable in younger patients with reducible tears that are peripheral (e.g., nearer the capsular attachment) and horizontal or longitudinal in nature. However, careful patient selection and repair technique is required with good compliance to post-operative rehabilitation, which often consists of bracing and non-weight bearing for 4-6 wk.     

The sensitivity of tibiofemoral contact pressure to the size and shape of the lateral and medial menisci.

In an effort to prevent degeneration of articular cartilage associated with meniscectomies, both meniscal allografts and synthetic replacements have been studied. A number of biomechanical criteria may be important for a meniscal replacement to restore normal tibiofemoral contact pressure in the knee joint and hence be clinically successful. One of these criteria is geometric similarity. The objectives of the current study were to: determine the sensitivity of the contact variables of the tibial plateau to the transverse depth and width of both the lateral and medial menisci; determine the sensitivity of the contact variables of the tibial plateau to the cross-sectional width and height of the lateral and medial menisci; and determine the tolerances on each of the four parameters for both menisci. To satisfy these objectives, a previously developed finite element model of the tibiofemoral joint was used to compute the contact pressure distribution on the tibial plateau. The effect of the above-mentioned geometric parameters on the contact behavior was studied by perturbing the finite element model. Results showed that the contact variables are similarly sensitive to both the transverse and cross-sectional parameters of the menisci. Additionally the medial meniscal parameters have a greater effect on the contact variables than do the lateral meniscal parameters. Finally, less than a 0.5 mm change in the medial meniscal height and greater than a 1 mm change in the lateral meniscal height could be tolerated before the relative difference in the contact variables from those for the original geometry exceeded 10%. Thus in the design or selection of meniscal replacements, each of the four parameters should be measured when sizing a replacement tissue. Also tighter tolerances should be placed on the medial meniscal parameters compared to the lateral meniscal parameters.     

Meniscal subluxation: association with osteoarthritis and joint space narrowing

OBJECTIVE: Since complete meniscectomy leads to knee OA, we investigated the potential links among meniscal subluxation, joint space narrowing and symptomatic OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 233 cases with symptomatic knee OA and 58 asymptomatic controls underwent radiography and MR imaging of the knee. Joint space narrowing was measured on weight-bearing PA fluoroscopy-positioned radiographs. The amount of medial or lateral meniscal subluxation was measured on coronal MR images. The prevalence and severity of meniscal subluxation was compared in cases and controls. We evaluated the correlation of the degree of meniscal subluxation with joint space narrowing, Kellgren and Lawrence grade, and two major risk factors for the development of OA, age and weight. RESULTS: Cases had more medial and lateral subluxation than controls. Mean medial meniscal subluxation was 5.1 mm in cases and 2.8 mm in controls (P=0.001). Modest degrees of meniscal subluxation were common in both cases and controls: 81% of cases and 64% of controls had >/=3 mm of subluxation; age and gender adjusted (P=0.006). Severe degrees of subluxation were almost unique to OA cases (e.g. prevalence of >/=7 mm, 35% cases vs. 7% controls, P< 0.001). Among controls, severe degrees of subluxation were present only in those with radiographic joint space narrowing (defined as >/=grade 1 narrowing on a 0-3 scale). In cases, there was a strong correlation between the degree of medial meniscal subluxation and the severity of medial joint space narrowing (r=0.56, P=0.0001). Similar results were present in the lateral compartment. Meniscal subluxation did not correlate with age or weight. CONCLUSION: Meniscal subluxation is highly associated with symptomatic knee OA. In subjects with osteoarthritis, increasing meniscal subluxation on MR correlates with the severity of joint space narrowing.     

Postoperative change in medial meniscal length in concurrent all-inside meniscus repair with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Purpose

Meniscus repair can restore meniscal function that transfers the axial compressive force to circumferential tensile strain. However, few reports have investigated the relationship between concurrent meniscus repair with acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and postoperative meniscal position. This study aimed to evaluate medial meniscal size and clinical results in patients who underwent ACL reconstruction and concomitant all-inside medial meniscus repair.

Methods

Twenty patients underwent ACL reconstruction and concurrent medial meniscus repair of a peripheral longitudinal tear using the FasT-Fix meniscal repair device. Medial tibial plateau length (MTPL) and width (MTPW) were determined by radiographic images. We evaluated the Lysholm score, anteroposterior instability, meniscal healing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based medial meniscal length (MML) and width (MMW). Correlations between MRI-based meniscal size, radiographic measurement and height were investigated.

Results

All patients showed complete healing of the repaired meniscus in arthroscopic evaluation. However, one patient needed a subsequent meniscus repair during the follow-up period. Lysholm score and anteroposterior instability improved significantly. A better correlation was observed between MMW and MTPW than between MML and MTPL. Concurrent all-inside medial meniscus repair with ACL reconstruction significantly increased MML percentage (%MML) (100 MML/MTPL) but did not affect MMW percentage (%MMW) (100 MMW/MTPW).

Conclusions

Concurrent all-inside medial meniscus repair with ACL reconstruction had satisfactory clinical results. %MML was increased by concurrent medial meniscus repair without affecting %MMW. Our results suggest that medial meniscus repair associated with ACL reconstruction may restore meniscal function by adjusting the anteroposterior length of the torn medial meniscus.     

Meniscal ossicle

Meniscal ossicle, or bone within the substance of meniscus, is a rare entity and commonly confused with a loose body both clinically and radiologically. MRI is the modality that can definitely diagnose meniscal ossicle and avoid unnecessary diagnostic arthroscopy. Here we report one such case diagnosed using MRI; this patient is doing well without surgery one year after diagnosis.     

Clinical results of arthroscopic all-inside lateral meniscal repair using the Meniscal Viper Repair System

Purpose

This study examined the postoperative outcome of the all-inside arthroscopic meniscal suture repair technique using the Meniscal Viper Repair System for lateral meniscus tears.

Methods

Between January 2006 and December 2008, 57 patients (27 males and 30 females) with lateral meniscus tears who underwent meniscal repair using the Meniscal Viper Repair System were evaluated prospectively. Among them, 52 cases were tears involving the posterior third of the lateral meniscus, and most were longitudinal tears or bucket handle tears. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 12 months to 4 years and 2 months, and averaged 19 months.

Results

Both Lysholm and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score were significantly improved after surgery. Forty-nine of 57 patients (86.0 %) had no locking or catching, no joint line tenderness, and a negative McMurray test at the last follow-up. Of 32 patients who underwent second-look arthroscopy, 24 achieved complete healing, while four showed partial healing and required repeat repair, and four showed no healing and meniscectomy was conducted. The failure rate in all patients was thus 14.0 % (8 of 57 repairs). No major complications associated with the use of the Meniscal Viper Repair System were observed.

Conclusion

The Meniscal Viper System is a convenient and effective device for all- inside lateral meniscal suture, with high success rate and no major complications.     

Repair of meniscal tears with the absorbable Clearfix screw: results after 1–3 years

Introduction Total meniscus resection usually leads to osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Preservation and refixation of the injured menisci are therefore of great clinical importance.Materials and methods The present study examines 40 meniscal injuries in 37 patients that were arthroscopically treated with Clearfix meniscal screws (Mitek, Norderstedt, Germany) in the period from August 1999 to December 2002. The mean patient age was 27.7 (range 16–62) years. Nine patients were female. A total of 24 patients (27 meniscal tears) also had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) lesion, and 5 patients had cartilage injuries. Twenty-two patients were treated within the first 2 weeks following the trauma, 10 patients within 8 weeks, and 5 patients after 8 weeks. The lesions were a bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus in 11 cases and a bucket-handle tear of the lateral meniscus in 2 cases. The posterior horn of the medial meniscus was torn in 13 cases, and the pars intermedia in 3 cases. The posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was torn in 8 cases, and the pars intermedia in 3 cases. The mean tear length was 2.9 (±1.5) cm and was fixed with an average of 1.8 (±0.7) screws. In 7 cases, the anterior horn was treated with an additional meniscal suture. A total of 35 patients were examined after an average of 18 (range 7–45) months.Results In the event of a moderate outcome, MRI was performed as part of the follow-up investigation. The average Lysholm score was 93 (±7.4), the Tegner activity index was 6.3 (±2.0) before the accident and 5.8 (±2.0) at the follow-up, the Marshall knee score was 47 (±3.8). The VAS pain assessment was 1.6 (±1.3) and the VAS function assessment was 7.9 (±1.6). Of the 7 patients with a moderate result, 2 patients without additional ligament lesions suffered re-ruptures after 6 and 13 months, respectively. The other 5 patients with a moderate result each had multiple accompanying injuries or pre-existing damage to the affected knee joint.Conclusion The Clearfix screws achieved a clinical success rate of 82% in isolated meniscal tears in stable knee joints and a clinical success rate of 100% with additional ACL reconstruction. In view of the good clinical results and the simple procedure for use, the implant should be recommended for meniscal refixation.     

Medial meniscal cyst: a case report

Meniscal cysts are a rare disease constantly combined with a horizontal meniscal lesion. Currently, nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI) is the main diagnostic tool, because of its high sensitivity and specificity, and decompression arthroscopy combined with selective meniscectomy is the treatment of choice. The Authors report a case of a voluminous medial meniscal cyst where instrumental examination, MRI, was fundamental for the preoperative diagnosis of the horizontal meniscal lesion causing the cystic degeneration of the meniscus. The treatment performed was selective meniscectomy of the body and posterior horn of the medial meniscus and decompression of the voluminous cyst by arthroscopy. Physical examination after six months showed the complete resolution of swelling at the medial hemirima, no walking pain and normal range of motion.     

Comparison of meniscal allograft transplantation techniques using a preclinical canine model

Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) can be a safe, effective treatment for meniscal deficiency resulting in knee dysfunction, leading to osteoarthritis (OA) without proper treatment with 5‐year functional success rates (75%‐90%). While different grafts and techniques have generally proven safe and effective, complications include shrinkage, extrusion, progression of joint pathology, and failure. The objective of this study was to assess the functional outcomes after MAT using three different clinically‐relevant methods in a preclinical canine model. The study was designed to test the hypothesis that fresh meniscal‐osteochondral allograft transplantation would be associated with significantly better function and joint health compared with fresh‐viable or fresh‐frozen meniscus‐only allograft transplantations. Three months after meniscal release to induce meniscus‐deficient medial compartment disease, research hounds (n = 12) underwent MAT using meniscus allografts harvested from matched dogs. Three MAT conditions (n = 4 each) were compared: frozen meniscus–fresh‐frozen meniscal allograft with menisco‐capsular suture repair; fresh meniscus–fresh viable meniscal allograft (Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System (MOPS)‐preservation for 30 days) with menisco‐tibial ligament repair; fresh menisco‐tibial–fresh, viable meniscal‐tibial‐osteochondral allografts (MOPS‐preservation for 30 days) with menisco‐tibial ligament preservation and autogenous bone marrow aspirate concentrate on OCA bone. Assessment was performed up to 6 months after MAT. Pain, comfortable range of motion, imaging, and arthroscopic scores as well histological and cell viability findings were superior (P < .05) for the fresh menisco‐tibial group compared with the two other groups. Novel meniscal preservation and implantation techniques with fresh, MOPS‐preserved, viable meniscal‐osteochondral allografts with menisco‐tibial ligament preservation appears to be safe and effective for restoring knee function and joint health in this preclinical model. This has the potential to significantly improve outcomes after MAT.