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Evaluation of the morphological variations of the meniscus: a cadaver study

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to reveal the prevalence of the subtypes of the meniscus using human cadaver knees.

Methods

Four hundred and thirty-seven cadaveric knees in 219 subjects (formalin fixed, Japanese population) with a median age of 83 years (54–97) were included in this study. All soft tissues surrounding the knee, excluding the meniscus, were resected, and macroscopic assessment of the meniscus was performed. Meniscus subtypes were classified as: (1) normal meniscus, (2) complete discoid, (3) incomplete discoid, (4) ring-shaped, and (5) double-layered.

Results

All subtypes of the meniscus were observed in the lateral meniscus. Complete discoid lateral meniscus was observed in 27 knees (6.2 %), incomplete discoid lateral meniscus was observed in 139 knees (31.8 %), ring-shaped lateral meniscus was observed in 4 knees (0.9 %), and double-layered meniscus was observed in 2 knees (0.5 %).

Conclusion

This study reports the accurate prevalence of ring-shaped and double-layered meniscus. None of the subtypes were detected in the medial meniscus in this study. For clinical relevance, the results of this study can be useful in assisting the diagnosis of meniscus tear in clinical situations.

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Abbreviations

ACL:

Anterior cruciate ligament

LM:

Lateral meniscus

MM:

Medial meniscus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, Chiyodaku Kanda Surugadai 1-8-13, Tokyo, Japan

    Keinosuke Ryu & Akiyoshi Saito

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kamimoku Hotsprings Hospital, Minakami, Japan

    Takanori Iriuchishima

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Midori Oshida

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Yuki Kato & Yasuaki Tokuhashi

  5. Department of Functional Morphology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Shin Aizawa

Authors
  1. Keinosuke Ryu
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  2. Takanori Iriuchishima
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  3. Midori Oshida
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  4. Akiyoshi Saito
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  5. Yuki Kato
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  6. Yasuaki Tokuhashi
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  7. Shin Aizawa
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Correspondence to Keinosuke Ryu.

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Ryu, K., Iriuchishima, T., Oshida, M. et al. Evaluation of the morphological variations of the meniscus: a cadaver study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 15–19 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2612-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-013-2612-y

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