MEDLINE Abstracts: Meniscal Derangement
MEDLINE Abstracts: Meniscal Derangement
What's new concerning diagnosis and treatment of meniscal tears? Find out in this easy-to-navigate collection of recent MEDLINE abstracts compiled by the editors at Medscape Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
Muellner T, Weinstabl R, Schabus R, Vecsei V, Kainberger F
American Journal of Sports Medicine 25(1):7-12, 1997 Jan-Feb
This study evaluated the predictability of clinical examination alone in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of meniscal tears in competitive athletes. Ninety-three competitive athletes were prospectively investigated between 1992 and 1995. A total of 57 athletes were operated on based on clinical examination alone, and the 36 remaining athletes had magnetic resonance imaging before surgery. The correct diagnosis of a meniscal lesion was made on clinical examination alone in 83 athletes (89%) and on magnetic resonance imaging the correct diagnosis was also made in 89% of 36 athletes. The overall values for the clinical investigation of the medial and lateral menisci combined were 94.5%, 91.5%, 99%, 96.5%, 87% for accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively. The overall values for magnetic resonance imaging of the medial and lateral menisci combined were 95.5%, 96.5%, 91.5%, 98%, 85.5% for accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively.
Miller TT, Staron RB, Feldman F, Cepel E
Skeletal Radiology 26(7):424-7, 1997 Jul
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of meniscal protrusion (i.e. location of the outer edge of a meniscus beyond the tibial articular surface), and to determine its relationship with internal derangement, joint effusion, and degenerative arthropathy. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Sagittal and coronal MR images of 111 abnormal and 46 normal knees were evaluated for the presence of meniscal protrusion. We set 25% as the minimum amount of displacement considered abnormal because this was the smallest amount of displacement we could confidently discern. Presence of meniscal tear, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, joint effusion, or osteophytosis was also recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Normal examinations demonstrated protrusion of the medial meniscus in 6.5% of sagittal images and 15% of coronal images, and of the lateral meniscus in 2% and 13%, respectively. Fisher's exact test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the normal and abnormal groups for the medial meniscus on both sagittal (P < 0.0001) and coronal (P = 0.01) images, but not for the lateral meniscus in either plane (P > 0.2). A protruding medial meniscus was associated with effusion and osteophytosis (P < 0.05) but not with meniscal or ACL tear (P > 0.1). Posterior protrusion of the lateral meniscus was only associated with ACL injury (P < 0.0001); protruding anterior horns and bodies of lateral menisci were not associated with any of the four abnormalities. It is concluded that the medial meniscus may occasionally protrude more than 25% of its width, but protrusion is more often due to effusion and osteophytes. Protrusion of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus is associated with ACL insufficiency, while protrusion of the body and anterior horn of the lateral meniscus is a normal variant.
Fadale PD, Hulstyn MJ
Clinics in Sports Medicine 16(3):479-99, 1997 Jul
Knee injuries continue to be an increasingly common and highly visible problem presenting to the sports medicine physician. The physicians who handle knee injuries will be challenged by patients, coaches, trainers, business agents, the press, and family members with an ever-increasing sophistication of medical knowledge. An understanding of the underlying structure and function of the commonly injured ligaments, menisci, and the patellofemoral joint is discussed. Diagnosis by physical examination is encouraged. Conservative and surgical treatment options are reviewed as are the considerations involved in deciding the time to return to sports.
DeHaven KE, Bronstein RD
Clinics in Sports Medicine 16(1):69-86, 1997 Jan
Meniscal tears are common sports injuries. This article details the clinical evaluation of the athlete presenting with knee pain. Conservative (nonoperative) treatment and arthroscopic procedures are discussed.
Rubin DA
Radiologic Clinics of North America 35(1):21-44, 1997 Jan
MR imaging of the knee is highly accurate for the noninvasive diagnosis of meniscal tears and other meniscal pathology. Familiarity with the normal anatomy and common pitfalls reduces errant interpretations, but does not eliminate them entirely. The two MR imaging signs of a meniscal tear are abnormal intrameniscal signal on a short-TE image that unequivocally contacts the meniscal surface, and abnormal meniscal morphology in the absence of prior meniscal surgery. To help guide the treatment of meniscal injuries, which continues to evolve, the MR imaging report should thoroughly describe tears, and not simply indicate whether a meniscal tear is present. In the patient with an ACL tear, the accuracy of MR imaging examination for meniscal tears, especially lateral tears, diminishes but still surpasses that of physical examination. The MR imaging criteria for meniscal tears need to be modified in patients who have undergone meniscal surgery.
What's new concerning diagnosis and treatment of meniscal tears? Find out in this easy-to-navigate collection of recent MEDLINE abstracts compiled by the editors at Medscape Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
Muellner T, Weinstabl R, Schabus R, Vecsei V, Kainberger F
American Journal of Sports Medicine 25(1):7-12, 1997 Jan-Feb
This study evaluated the predictability of clinical examination alone in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of meniscal tears in competitive athletes. Ninety-three competitive athletes were prospectively investigated between 1992 and 1995. A total of 57 athletes were operated on based on clinical examination alone, and the 36 remaining athletes had magnetic resonance imaging before surgery. The correct diagnosis of a meniscal lesion was made on clinical examination alone in 83 athletes (89%) and on magnetic resonance imaging the correct diagnosis was also made in 89% of 36 athletes. The overall values for the clinical investigation of the medial and lateral menisci combined were 94.5%, 91.5%, 99%, 96.5%, 87% for accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively. The overall values for magnetic resonance imaging of the medial and lateral menisci combined were 95.5%, 96.5%, 91.5%, 98%, 85.5% for accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively.
Miller TT, Staron RB, Feldman F, Cepel E
Skeletal Radiology 26(7):424-7, 1997 Jul
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of meniscal protrusion (i.e. location of the outer edge of a meniscus beyond the tibial articular surface), and to determine its relationship with internal derangement, joint effusion, and degenerative arthropathy. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Sagittal and coronal MR images of 111 abnormal and 46 normal knees were evaluated for the presence of meniscal protrusion. We set 25% as the minimum amount of displacement considered abnormal because this was the smallest amount of displacement we could confidently discern. Presence of meniscal tear, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, joint effusion, or osteophytosis was also recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Normal examinations demonstrated protrusion of the medial meniscus in 6.5% of sagittal images and 15% of coronal images, and of the lateral meniscus in 2% and 13%, respectively. Fisher's exact test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the normal and abnormal groups for the medial meniscus on both sagittal (P < 0.0001) and coronal (P = 0.01) images, but not for the lateral meniscus in either plane (P > 0.2). A protruding medial meniscus was associated with effusion and osteophytosis (P < 0.05) but not with meniscal or ACL tear (P > 0.1). Posterior protrusion of the lateral meniscus was only associated with ACL injury (P < 0.0001); protruding anterior horns and bodies of lateral menisci were not associated with any of the four abnormalities. It is concluded that the medial meniscus may occasionally protrude more than 25% of its width, but protrusion is more often due to effusion and osteophytes. Protrusion of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus is associated with ACL insufficiency, while protrusion of the body and anterior horn of the lateral meniscus is a normal variant.
Fadale PD, Hulstyn MJ
Clinics in Sports Medicine 16(3):479-99, 1997 Jul
Knee injuries continue to be an increasingly common and highly visible problem presenting to the sports medicine physician. The physicians who handle knee injuries will be challenged by patients, coaches, trainers, business agents, the press, and family members with an ever-increasing sophistication of medical knowledge. An understanding of the underlying structure and function of the commonly injured ligaments, menisci, and the patellofemoral joint is discussed. Diagnosis by physical examination is encouraged. Conservative and surgical treatment options are reviewed as are the considerations involved in deciding the time to return to sports.
DeHaven KE, Bronstein RD
Clinics in Sports Medicine 16(1):69-86, 1997 Jan
Meniscal tears are common sports injuries. This article details the clinical evaluation of the athlete presenting with knee pain. Conservative (nonoperative) treatment and arthroscopic procedures are discussed.
Rubin DA
Radiologic Clinics of North America 35(1):21-44, 1997 Jan
MR imaging of the knee is highly accurate for the noninvasive diagnosis of meniscal tears and other meniscal pathology. Familiarity with the normal anatomy and common pitfalls reduces errant interpretations, but does not eliminate them entirely. The two MR imaging signs of a meniscal tear are abnormal intrameniscal signal on a short-TE image that unequivocally contacts the meniscal surface, and abnormal meniscal morphology in the absence of prior meniscal surgery. To help guide the treatment of meniscal injuries, which continues to evolve, the MR imaging report should thoroughly describe tears, and not simply indicate whether a meniscal tear is present. In the patient with an ACL tear, the accuracy of MR imaging examination for meniscal tears, especially lateral tears, diminishes but still surpasses that of physical examination. The MR imaging criteria for meniscal tears need to be modified in patients who have undergone meniscal surgery.
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