Study on clinical characteristics and surgical methods of bucket-handle meniscal tears / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize the clinical features, surgical methods, and prognosis of bucket-handle meniscal tears (BHMTs), and provide guidance for clinical treatment.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 91 BHMTs patients (91 knees), who met the selection criteria and were admitted between January 2015 and January 2021, was retrospectively analyzed. There were 68 males and 23 females. Age ranged from 16 to 58 years with an average of 34.4 years. The injury was caused by sports in 68 cases, traffic accident in 15 cases, and falls or sprains in 8 cases. There were 49 cases of left knee injury and 42 cases of right knee injury. The time from the onset of symptoms to the admission ranged from 1 day to 13 months (median, 18 days), including >1 month in 35 cases and ≤1 month in 56 cases. Medial BHMTs occurred in 52 cases and lateral BHMTs in 39 cases. There were 36 cases with ACL rupture and 12 cases with discoid meniscus. The knee extension was limited more than 10° in 55 cases. According to the condition of meniscus injury, the meniscus suture with Inside-out combined with All-inside techniques (54 cases) or meniscoplasty (37 cases) under arthroscopy were selected. ACL reconstruction was performed in all patients with ACL rupture with autogenous hamstring tendon. Postoperative complications were observed. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Lysholm score, and Tegner score were used to evaluate knee function, and clinical failure was recorded.@*RESULTS@#Two patients developed intermuscular venous thrombosis, which improved after oral anticoagulant therapy. No vascular injury, postoperative infection, joint stiffness, or other complications occurred in all patients. All patients were followed up 24-95 months, with a median of 64 months. A total of 12 cases (13.19%) failed the operation and were re-operated or given oral anti-inflammatory analgesics and rehabilitation therapy. At last follow-up, IKDC score and Lysholm score of 91 patients significantly increased when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05), while Tegner score significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The above indexes of patients treated with meniscus suture and meniscoplasty were also significantly different from those before operation ( P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#BHMTs occurs mostly in young men and is one of the important reasons for the limitation of knee extension after trauma. Arthroscopic meniscus suture and meniscoplasty can obtain good effectiveness according to individual conditions of patients. But the latter can better preserve the shape and function of meniscus, and theoretically can obtain better long-term outcomes, which needs to be confirmed by further research with larger sample size.

Tratamiento de las lesiones del ligamento cruzado anterior y meniscales en adolescentes: reporte de un caso / Treatment for anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal tears in adolescents: a case report / Tratamento das lesões do ligamento cruzado anterior e meniscais em adolescentes: relatório de um caso

Dada la creciente popularidad de las actividades deportivas, el número de roturas del ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) y lesiones meniscales ha aumentado en particular en niños y adolescentes. El manejo de estas lesiones es desafiante debido las fisis abiertas. Por un lado las opciones de reconstrucción del LCA incluyen técnicas: transfisarias, extra-articulares y intraepifisarias. Por otro lado se han descrito diferentes técnicas de reparación meniscal: "all-inside", "inside-out" y "outside-in". Estas tiene como objetivo lograr la cicatrización meniscal, evitando los efectos adversos de la meniscectomía. Presentamos un reporte de caso de un adolescente de 14 años con una rotura completa del LCA y una lesión del cuerno posterior del menisco interno que fue sometido a una reconstrucción transfisaria del LCA y a una reparación meniscal "inside-out".

With the raising popularity of sporting activity, the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and meniscal tears has increased in particular in children and adolescents. Management of these injuries is challenging due to open growth plates. On the one hand the ACL reconstructions options includes: transphyseal, extra-articular and epiphyseal-only techniques. On the other hand there have been described different meniscal repair techniques: "all-inside", "inside-out" and "outside-in". These aim to achieve meniscal healing, avoiding the adverse effects of meniscectomy. We present a case report of a 14-year adolescent with an ACL complete rupture and a posterior horn tear of the medial meniscus who underwent an ACL transphyseal reconstruction and a "inside-out" meniscal repair.

Dada a crescente popularidade das atividades esportivas, o número de rupturas do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) e lesões meniscais aumentou especialmente em crianças e adolescentes. O manejo destas lesões é desafiador devido às fissuras abertas. Por um lado as opções de reconstrução do LCA incluem técnicas: transfisárias, extra-articulares e intraepifisárias. Por outro lado, foram descritas diferentes técnicas de reparação meniscal: "all-inside", "inside-out" e "outside-in". Estes têm como objetivo alcançar a cicatrização meniscal, evitando os efeitos adversos da meniscectomia. Apresentamos um relatório de caso de um adolescente de 14 anos com uma ruptura completa do LCA e uma lesão do corno posterior do menisco interno que foi submetido a uma reconstrução transfisária do LCA e a uma reparação meniscal "inside-out".

Incidence of Meniscal Tears in Cruciate Deficient Knee with Respect to Early and Delayed Reconstruction of ACL

Introduction: Descriptions of meniscus and articularcartilage lesions associated with anterior cruciate ligamentinjury have been reported by many authors. There are twoschools of thought regarding reconstruction either Earlyreconstruction and structured rehabilitation or Structuredrehabilitation with delayed reconstruction The aim of thisstudy was to identify the impact on the meniscus in earlyand delayed presentation of anterior cruciate ligament tearsand to emphasize the importance of early reconstruction ofanterior cruciate ligament to prevent further meniscal damageand articular cartilage lesions and subsequentially preventingOsteoarthritis.Materials and methods: The retrospective study wasconducted at Lourdes Hospital, Ernakulam, Kerala.Patients who presented with anterior cruciate ligament tearswere grouped into three based on their time of injury toreconstruction and the associated meniscal tears were noted.GROUP I included patients who had ACL Reconstructionwithin 2 months of injury, GROUP II within 2-6 months ofinjury and GROUP III within 6-12 Months of injury. Patientswere further divided within the groups according to their ageand grouped with a difference of ten years starting at less than25 years of age to greater than 45 years of age. Location andincidence of tear was compared between the three groupsResults: Incidence of Meniscal injury increases over timein patients as they passed through the acute, sub-acute andchronic phases of ACL deficiency. Immediately followingACL Injury Lateral meniscal injuries were more commonand was found in the acute phase (Group I). Lateral meniscustears decreased as patients passed through the acute phaseinto the sub-acute phase (Group II), whereas medial meniscaltears began to increase and predominated in the chronic phase(Group III).Conclusion: This study was able to demonstrate that theIncidence of Meniscal injury increased over time in ACLdeficient knees. Lateral meniscal injuries were more commonin acute ACL Tears. Medial meniscal injuries increased dueto instability of the knee. Hence an early Acl reconstructionpreferably within two months of injury is a good option forpatients as it prevents further meniscal damage and decreasesIncidence of Osteoarthritis.

Effectiveness Of Mulligan’s Squeeze Technique As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy To Decrease Pain And Improve Range Of Motion In Meniscal Tear-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Serious, major meniscal fractures are the most common knee injuries. In the management of meniscal tears, physical therapy has shown positive results, and additional medication is required to reduce the effects of meniscal tears. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the mulligan squeeze procedure in combination with conventional pain relief therapy and to increase the range of movement and functional ability of meniscal tear patients. The study aims at reviving pain, increasing ROM and stability, and improving the quality of their lives. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 40 patients were chosen and randomly assigned to two groups, A and B, clinically diagnosed with a meniscal tear. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), and knee range of motion were reported to determine the pain level and functional capability of the patients. Results: During the 4th and 6th week, all classes showed a significant gap (P<0.05). At the end of the 6th week, the standard variance and the overall analysis team t-test values were higher than the control group. Conclusion: The two teams showed significant progress for NRPS, ROM, and PSFS, but the experimental group showed more significant improvement in all the parameters.

Factores de riesgo relacionados a la falla de la sutura meniscal en niños y adolescentes / Risk factors related to meniscal suture failure in children and adolescents

Las lesiones meniscales en niños son cada día más frecuentes. La preservación meniscal es una prioridad en este grupo de pacientes, sin embargo, existen pocos artículos que muestran los resultados de suturas meniscales en niños. OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio es identificar factores de riesgo de falla en pacientes sometidos a una sutura meniscal en niños menores de 18 años. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo de 35 pacientes sometidos a una sutura meniscal, con una edad promedio de 16 años (13­18) y un seguimiento de 71 meses de media (16­115). Se evaluaron 6 variables: tipo, localización y tamaño de la lesión, edad, técnica quirúrgica y asociación a rotura de ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA). Los pacientes que presentaron falla de la sutura meniscal fueron identificados y sometidos a una regresión logística usando un modelo Stata V.14.0. RESULTADOS: 9 pacientes (24.3%) presentaron una falla en su cirugía durante el seguimiento. Lesiones iniciales mayores a 16 mm mostraron una tasa de re-rotura de un 73% independiente de la técnica quirúrgica. En lesiones menores a 16 mm, se obtuvo un 78% de reparaciones exitosas. No se encontró relación entre la re-rotura meniscal y lesión de LCA, tipo y localización de la lesión, técnica quirúrgica y edad de los pacientes. CONCLUSIÓN: Este estudio muestra que la reparación meniscal en niños tiene buenos resultados con una tasa de éxito promedio de un 75%. El riesgo de falla de sutura meniscal se correlacionó con el tamaño inicial de la lesión con un 73% de fallo en lesiones mayores a 16 mm independientemente del tipo de cirugía.

Meniscal tears are uncommon in the pediatric population, with an increasing number. Currently meniscal preservation is a priority when treating these injuries. However, only a few studies have reported the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic meniscal repair in children and its risk factors of failure. OBJECTIVE: Identify risk factors related to meniscal suture failure in patients under 18 years who underwent a meniscal repair. METHODS: Retrospective study of 35 patients with an average age of 16 years (13 - 18) who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair with a mean follow up of 71.1 months (16­115). We evaluate 6 variables: type, location and size of meniscal tear, age, surgical technique and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) association. Patients with re-rupture were identified and statistical analysis was performed through a logistic regression model using Stata V.14.0. RESULTS: 9 patients (24.3%) presented a suture failure during follow-up. Average time for re-rupture was 16 months (4­60 months). With an initial tear size of 16 mm or bigger, 73% of the meniscal repair will fail despite surgery technique. With an initial tear size smaller than 16 mm, 78% of will heal. No association was found between meniscal re-rupture and ACL rupture, type and location of tear, surgical technique and age. Conclusion: In our study meniscal repairs in pediatric population had good overall results with a global healing rate of 75.7%. The risk of suture failure was related to the initial size of meniscal tear: when meniscal tear is bigger than 16 mm, 73% of them will fail despite surgery.

Clinics in diagnostic imaging (177). Medical meniscus bucket-handle tear with medial oblique meniscomeniscal ligament

A 29-year-old man with a previous football injury to his left knee presented with pain of the same knee. The patient twisted it as he was turning a corner quickly while going up the stairs, leading to internal rotation of his femur on his tibia with his knee in flexion. MR imaging revealed a bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus, as well as a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. However, image interpretation was complicated by the presence of a medial oblique meniscomeniscal ligament, a rare normal variant among intermeniscal ligaments of the knee. All four recognised variants of intermeniscal ligaments are discussed, with emphasis on their prevalence, imaging and anatomical features, and the way in which they may mimic meniscal tears.

Intra-articular Patterns of Bucket Handle Meniscal Tears and Its Relation to Reducibility

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the intra-articular patterns in the rotational deformities of bucket handle meniscal tears (BHMTs) based on arthroscopic findings and their clinical relevance. METHODS: From 2004 to 2009, 42 patients with a BHMT diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging underwent arthroscopic surgery. The arthroscopic data (all procedures were recorded) were evaluated retrospectively, and BHMTs were classified according to the rotational directions of centrally displaced fragments. To assess the reliability of the agreement in this classification, 2 orthopedic surgeons re-classified BHMTs, 1 week after first trial. Intra- and interobserver reliabilities were assessed using kappa statistics. In addition, we address specific tear patterns, associated anterior cruciate ligament injury, medio-lateral difference, reducibility, chronicity, and reparability. RESULTS: Most of the tears could be categorized into one of 3 morphologic patterns. Of the tears, 4.8% could not be categorized. BHMTs were classified, based on the rotational directions of centrally displaced fragments, as follows; the upward rotation group (type 1), the downward rotation group (type 2) and the reverse group (type 3). The most common intra-articular pattern was type 1 (29 patients, 69%). The occurrence of the other patterns was: type 2 in 7 patients (16.7%), type 3 in 4 patients (9.5%); we were not able to make a classification of type in 2 patients (4.8%). Intra-observer reliability was 0.86 in terms of kappa statistics, which implies almost perfect agreement. Mean interobserver reliability (0.73) showed substantial agreement. Type 1 and 2 tears were easily reduced, whereas all type 3 tears (4/4) needed additional procedures to achieve reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Based on arthroscopic findings, we describe a comprehensive BHMT classification scheme that encompasses 95.2% of all tears. Tear type was correlated with reducibility.

Medial Meniscal Tears in Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knees: Effects of Posterior Tibial Slope on Medial Meniscal Tear

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of meniscal tears in patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees, and to determine the influence of posterior tibial slope (PTS) on medial meniscal tears in ACL-deficient knees. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 174 patients (174 knees) with a mean age of 30.7 years who underwent ACL reconstruction for chronic ACL tears. We divided the patients into two groups: low group (135 knees with a PTS or =13degrees). RESULTS: The incidence of medial meniscus tears was 44% (77/174), and that of lateral meniscus tears was 35% (61/174). The mean PTS in patients with medial meniscal tears was 11.4degrees+/-3.0degrees, whereas that in patients without medial meniscal tears was 9.8degrees+/-2.4degrees. The incidence of meniscal tears was 57.8% (78/135) in the low group and 89.7% (35/39) in the high group (p or =13degrees is a risk factor for secondary medial meniscal tears in ACL-deficient knees. So, we suggest that PTS is one of the considerations for determining early ACL reconstruction to prevent secondary meniscal tears.

Update in Tissue Engineering Methods for Meniscal Tear of knee Joint / 대한정형외과연구학회지

Meniscal tear of knee joint has been known to be one of the most important risk factors to cause knee osteoarthritis. For meniscal tear, in vascular peripheral zone meniscal repair for healing is recommended to preserve knee articular cartilage and in avascular central zone it is recommended partial meniscectomy that preserves intact meniscal rim as much as possible. Recent strategy for meniscal lesion has been established from meniscectomy to meniscal repair as the role of meniscus for preserving articular cartilage has proved to be critical. Even after total meniscectomy, the efforts to preserve meniscus do not decrease and in these cases, meniscal allograft is transplanted to meniscal deficient knee. Although there are so many methods to preserve meniscus, the clinical results are doubtful about cartilage degeneration due to low regenerative potency of meniscus. Nowdays, tissue engineering is reported to be promising treatment modality for not only stimulating lesion healing but also replacing entire meniscus by tissue engineered prosthesis. The authors introduced recent tissue engineering methods for healing torn meniscus and total replacement of meniscus with respect to substituting cells and stimulating growth factors, scaffolds for meniscal regeneration, tissue engineering for meniscal healing, meniscal prosthesis.

Quantitative Analysis of Magnetization Transfer by Phase Sensitive Method in Knee Disorder

Magnetization Transfer (MT) imaging generates contrast dependent on the phenomenon of magnetization exchange between free water proton and restricted proton in macromolecules. In biological materials in knee, MT or cross-relaxation is commonly modeled using two spin pools identified by their different T2 relaxation times. Two models for cross-relaxation emphasize the role of proton chemical exchange between protons of water and exchangeable protons on macromolecules, as well as through dipole-dipole interaction between the water and macromolecule protons. The most essential tool in medical image manipulation is the ability to adjust the contrast and intensity. Thus, it is desirable to adjust the contrast and intensity of an image interactively in the real time. The proton density (PD) and T2-weighted SE MR images allow the depiction of knee structures and can demonstrate defects and gross morphologic changes. The PD- and T2-weighted images also show the cartilage internal pathology due to the more intermediate signal of the knee joint in these sequences. Suppression of fat extends the dynamic range of tissue contrast, removes chemical shift artifacts, and decreases motion-related ghost artifacts. Like fat saturation, phase sensitive methods are also based on the difference in precession frequencies of water and fat. In this study, phase sensitive methods look at the phase difference that is accumulated in time as a result of Larmor frequency differences rather than using this difference directly. Although how MT work was given with clinical evidence that leads to quantitative model for MT in tissues, the mathematical formalism used to describe the MT effect applies to explaining to evaluate knee disorder, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and meniscal tear. Calculation of the effect of the effect of the MT saturation is given in the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) which is a quantitative measure of the relative decrease in signal intensity due to the MT pulse.

Meniscectomia parcial artroscopica en niños y adolescentes con lesión meniscal aislada: evaluación funcional y radiológica / Partial arthroscopic meniscectomy in children and adolescent with isolated meniscal tears: functional and radiological evaluation

Meniscal tears in skeletally immature patients are usually associated with discoid menisci and knee ligament lesions. We retrospectively evaluated 20 patients, less than 16 years old, with isolated meniscal tears who underwent partial meniscectomies. A traumatic event caused the tear in 14 patients and in 6 patients there was no evident cause. 9 knees had a discoid meniscus. The average follow-up was longer than 3 years. 18 patients had excellent post operative Lysholm scores. We did not observe degenerative signs on radiographic follow up. 3 patients required another surgery: one had a meniscal re-tear and 2 had a symptomatic chondral lesion of the external femoral condyle. These 2 patients had a bad functional result. Partial meniscectomies in patients younger than 16 years old have excellent functional results without degenerative radiological signs at short to mid term follow-up. Bad results were associated with external tears and secondary chondral lesions.

Las roturas meniscales en niños son poco frecuentes, especialmente sin lesiones asociadas. Se estudian retrospectivamente 21 rodillas de 20 pacientes menores de 16 años sometidos a una meniscectomía parcial por una lesión meniscal aislada. De estas rodillas, 9 presentaron un menisco discoídeo roto. En 14 pacientes la rotura meniscal se produjo por un traumatismo y en 6 la sintomatología se inició espontáneamente. Al final de un seguimiento promedio de 37 meses, 18pacientes tuvieron un resultado funcional excelente. Dos pacientes evolucionaron con una lesión condral del cóndilo femoral externo y tuvieron un resultado insatisfactorio. Tres pacientes fueron reintervenidos. No se observaron signos radiográficos degenerativos. La meniscectomía parcial en pacientes menores de 16 años presenta un porcentaje alto de resultados funcionales excelentes y ausencia de signos radiográficos degenerativos a corto plazo. Los resultados insatisfactorios se asociaron a lesiones condrales secundarias luego de una meniscectomía externa.

Efficacy of Bone SPECT for Diagnosis of Meniscal tear / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of bone SPECT for the diagnosis of meniscal tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 63 cases that had undergone bone SPECT were evaluated for sensitivity and specificity by comparing arthroscopy and MRI findings. RESULTS: Bone SPECT showed a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificty of 71% for medial meniscus and a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificty of 87.8% for lateral meniscus tear. MRI was performed on 21 cases simultaneously, and agreement was obtained on the presence or absence, and on the nature of the pathology with bone SPECT in 15 cases (71.4%). CONCLUSION: Bone SPECT is believed to be an effective and economic way of screening for meniscal tear prior to arthroscopy, in suspected cases of meniscal tear.

Clinical Characteristics of Isolated Meniscal Tear / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Of all meniscal tears, isolated meniscal tear accounted for about 20%~30%. Also only a few reports in the literature dealt with isolated meniscal tear, which has a lower repairability and healing rate compared to patients with meniscal tear associated with ACL rupture. This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical characteristics of isolated meniscal tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June, 1996 and May, 1999, 170 cases confirmed to have a meniscal tear by arthroscopy, were included in this study. We analysed clinical characteristics, according to the type of injury, medial meniscal tear versus lateral meniscal tear, type and site of meniscal tear, as well as possibility of repair. RESULTS: The frequency of medial meniscus tear is more common than that of lateral meniscus tear. Additionally, the most common cause of meniscal tear was non- contact injury. Of the total isolated meniscal tears, 20.5% were repaired. CONCLUSION: In our case, the incidence of medial meniscus tear is higher than that of the lateral meniscus tear, but this study noted a significantly low incidence of repairablity in isolated meniscal tear. Based on preliminary findings in this study, we consider degenerative change of meniscus as the most important factor explaining the clinical characteristics of meniscus tear in patients, especially, over the age of 30.

The Clinical Study of Meniscal Repair / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To analyze and report the analyzed clinical results of meniscal repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two cases were reviewed after arthroscopic meniscal repair. The meniscal repair was indicated by unstable tears in red-red or red-white zone with the tear size longer than 10mm. The location, pattern of the tear and associated injury were examined respectively, and the clinical results were evaluated with preoperative, postoperative Lysholm score and findings of physical examination. Physical examination was focused on tenderness, click, effusion and McMurray test. Also, a second look arthroscopy was performed in the case of bucket-handle tears and other types with recurring symptoms and positive physical findings. RESULTS: The number of medial meniscus tear was higher than lateral meniscus tear and the were no considerable differences in the number between the right and the left knees. The most common location of tear was the red-red zone tear in 30 cases, and the most common tear pattern was longitudinal tear in 22 cases. The number of bucket-handle tear was nine. The most common associated injury was ACL injury. Acording to clinical assessment, 29 out of 32 cases showed satisfactory results, and the results of 7 out of 9 bucket-handle tears were good. CONCLUSION: An analysis of the clinical results of meniscal repair has been carried out, showing that meniscal repair is regarded as a reliable treatment modality in meniscal tear with proper patient selection.

Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair Using Inside-Out Technique under Minimized Skin Incision

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the Inside-Out arthroscopic repair technique using minimized skin incision for the peripheral tear of the meniscus. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We treated 44 meniscal tears of 39 patients with Inside-Out arthroscopic repair technique using minimized skin incision from December 1995 to November 1997 and evaluated the result retrospectively. Follow-up period was from 23 months to 50 months(average 34.5 months) and patient age was from 4 to 55(average 26.7). Twenty cases(45%) were injured during sports and 34 cases(77%) were chronically injured case. Ninteen cases(43%) were combined with ligament injuries and among them, 18 cases had an anterior cruciate ligament injury. All cases had peripheral tear and 12 cases were bucket handle tear and 8 cases were tear of discoid meniscus and 3 cases had meniscal cyst. RESULT: During follow-up period, 41 cases(95%) were satisfied and had excellent or good results which were based on the evaluation form of Tapper & Hoover's criteria. Recurrences of meniscal tear were occurred in two cases and they were resutured arthroscopically. As complications, three cases had skin dimplings at the suture site and they were treated with subcutaneous dissection at the out patient clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Even if not many cases and short follow-up periods, we obtained good result. Therefore, we recommend the Inside-Out arthroscopic repair technique using minimized skin incision for the periph-eral tear of the meniscus in any repairable condition.

Tibial Tuberosity Avulsion Fracture Combined with Meniscal Tear: A Case Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Avulsion fractures of the tibial tuberosity are uncommon and they usually occur in adolescents during sports activities. Ogden et al modified Watson-Jones classification into three types. To our knowledge, only two cases of tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures combined with meniscal tear were reported. We report an Ogden-type III intra-articular fracture of the tibial tuberosity combined with tear of the medial meniscus.

Clinical Diagnosis of Meniscus Injury of Knee Joint / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To report the differences between previous articles in Korea on the common occurence of lateral meniscus tears and our cases, and also which clinical symptoms and signs are the most reliable for diagnosis of meniscal tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed 118 patients who were confirmed to have a meniscal tear by arthroscopy from May 1996 to May 1998. The Chi-Square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There is no statistical difference of frequency between tears of the medial meniscus and those of the lateral meniscus. The most frequent clinical symptom is feeling of subluxation and sign is McMurray test. A combination of McMurray and squatting test is the most frequent positive sign of meniscal tear in our cases. CONCLUSIONS: In our cases, the frequency of medial meniscus tears is more common than those of the previous articles in Korea. To increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of meniscal tear, repeated and accurate history taking and physical examination, including above symptoms and signs are very important.

A comparison of Bone SPECT, MRI, and Arthroscopy for the Evaluation of Chronic Knee Pain / 대한류마티스학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the value of bone single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT), simply radiography, magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and arthroscopy to see the severity of osteoarthritis(OA) and the meniscal tear in patients with chronic knee pain. METHOD: Total 25 patients who had chronic knee pain and suspected meniscal tear during the period from May 1997 through June 1998 were included in the study. The simple radiography, bone SPECT and MRI were performed in all 25 patients. The arthroscopy was done in 17 patients and arthroplasty in four. In order to see the severity of OA, the arbitrary grading was done by SPECT, and kellgren-Lawrence grading by simple radiography and Outerbridge grading by arthroscopy were used. RESULTS: In 21 patients, bone SPECT and MRI with either arthroscopy or arthroplasty were done. Among the seventeen of these 21 patients who had a meniscal tear either by arthroscopy or arthroplasty, the meniscal tears were found in 15 patients by SPECT, and 14 patients by MRI. Spearman rank correlation coefficient between SPECT grading and arthroscopic grading was 0.814, and the coefficient between simple radiographic grading and arthroscopid grading was 0.360. CONCLUSION: The bone SPECT of the knee seems to be more cost-effective in comparison to MRI and arthroscopy to see the severity of OA and the meniscal tear in patients who has chronic knee pain.

A Case Report on the Meniscal Tear due to Repetitive Foot-Switch Stepping / 예방의학회지

Injuries to the menisci occur in a variety of ways, most commonly with a twist, pivot, squat, or valgus stress to the knee. Tear patterns are classified to longitudinal, horizontal, or transverse features according to the mechanism of injury. Work-related meniscal tear usually occurs with a repetitive usage of the foot, hence it can be classified as a cumulative traumatic disorder. We found a 47 year-old female worker who had been taking charge of repetitive foot-switch stepping for 8 years. She suffered from pain in the right knee since 5 months ago. Tenderness along the medial joint line of the right knee was observed and pain was aggravated with full flexion of the right knee. On magnetic resonance imaging, high signal intensity was observed at the posterior horn of the medial meniscus of the right knee. Degenerative longitudinal and transverse complex tear in the medial meniscus was observed on arthroscopy. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy was performed. We surveyed the work process and the health status of co-workers. It turned out that the work process was compatible to injure the meniscus and nine out of fourteen co-workers(64.3%) complained pain of the knee. No other factors related to her meniscal tear could be found except for the situation at her work. Therefore, we conclude that meniscal tear is related to the repetitive stepping of foot switch.

Ananalysis of the Clinical and MRI Findings of the Bucket: Handle Meniscal Tears of the Knee Joint / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Recently MRI has been shown to be a sensitive and specific study for the noninvasive detection of meniscal tears and several MRI findings of bucket-handle meniscal tears have been reported. Therefore, the MRI findings of the menisci proven to be the bucket-handle tear with arthroscopy were evaluated and the typical MRI findings seen to be the bucket-handle meniscal tear of the knee were analysed. 76 patients with proven bucket-handle meniscal tears arthroscopically were reviewed retrospectively, in which MRI was performed in 24 patients. The 3 typical findings of bucket-handle meniscal tears were assessed: double PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) sign, flipped meniscus sign, and fragment in the intercondylar notch. In 245 cases of meniscus tears, bucket-handle meniscal tears were 76 cases (31.0%) with 52 cases at medial meniscus and 24 cases at lateral meniscus. As to clinical and physical findings of the bucket-handle meniscal tears, McMurray test, locking, joint line tenderness and giving way sense were presented in orders. The sites of bucket-handle meniscal tear were medial meniscus in 17 cases and lateral in 7 cases. The double PCL sign was seen in 10 cases (58.8%) of in medial bucket-handle meniscal tears and in 3 cases (42.9%) of 7 lateral bucket-handle meniscal tears. The flipped meniscus sign were seen in 3 cases (17.6%) of medial bucket-handle meniscal tears and in 3 cases (42.9 %) of lateral bucket-handle meniscal tears. Fragments were identified in the intercondylar notch in 8 cases (47.1%) of medial bucket-handle meniscal tears and in 3 cases (42.9%) of lateral bucket-handle meniscal tears. There were 19 cases (79.2%) in which at least one or more typical findings were presented on MR images. The MRI is a sensitive study for detection of bucket-handle meniscal tears but precise interpretation of MRI is needed for diagnosis of bucket-handle tears. In this respect, the above three typical findings are helpful and reproducible for diagnosis of bucket-handle meniscal tears with MR images; double PCL sign, fragment in the intercondylar notch and flipped meniscus sign.