Radial tears in the anterior third of the lateral meniscus are frequently combined with horizontal tears.

Orthop Traumatol Surg Res

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Published: May 2022

AI Article Synopsis

  • Radial tears of the lateral meniscus can occur in the anterior third, frequently alongside horizontal tears, unlike traditional cases which are typically located in the middle and posterior thirds.
  • A study of 80 knees revealed 63.3% of anterior radial tears had horizontal tears, compared to 32% in the middle/posterior region.
  • These findings suggest that healthcare providers should be vigilant about the occurrence of complex tears in the anterior part of the meniscus when diagnosing and planning treatment.

Article Abstract

Introduction: Radial tears of the lateral meniscus are often located in the junction of the middle and posterior third or posterior tibial attachment. However, we observed that a few cases of radial tears occurred in the anterior third of the lateral meniscus, and in many cases, they were accompanied by horizontal tears.

Hypothesis: Radial tears are more frequently accompanied by horizontal tears in the anterior third of the lateral meniscus than in other regions.

Material And Methods: From July 2006 to May 2019, patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for radial tears of the lateral meniscus were included. Patients with radial tears in the anterior third of the lateral meniscus were classified into the anterior group and those with radial tears in the middle and posterior third were classified into the comparison group. Magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic findings were reviewed to evaluate whether radial tears were accompanied by other types of tears, especially horizontal tears. The incidence of complex tears between the two groups was compared.

Results: Eighty knees in 79 patients were included. The mean age at the time of surgery was 44.1±16.9 years. The anterior group included 30 knees, and 19 (63.3%) of those also had horizontal tears. In the anterior group, all complex tears were accompanied by horizontal tears, and no other types of accompanying tears were observed. The comparison group included 50 knees, and 16 (32%) of those also had other types of tears. Of the 16 complex tears, 14 had horizontal tears and 2 had longitudinal tears. The incidence of complex tear was significantly higher in the anterior group than in the comparison group (p<.001).

Conclusion: Radial tears occurring at the anterior third of the lateral meniscus are frequently accompanied by a horizontal tear. It is important to be aware and predict the occurrence of such characteristic tears and to do proper surgical procedures.

Level Of Proof: IV; Cross-sectional study.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2022.103223DOI Listing

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