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Steep posterior slope of the medial tibial plateau and anterior cruciate ligament degeneration contribute to medial meniscus posterior root tears in young patients

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) occur most frequently in middle-aged and older adults. However, this serious condition can also occur in younger patients. The purpose of this study was to compare anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) degeneration and sagittal medial tibial slope in young adults with and without MMPRT.

Methods

Eighteen healthy volunteers, 18 young patients (20–49 years of age), and 30 middle-aged and older patients (50–70 years of age) with MMPRT repair were included in the study. Sex, body mass index (BMI), femorotibial angle, ACL degeneration, and medial tibial slope angle were compared among the groups. ACL degeneration and medial tibial slope angle were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

In the healthy volunteer group, the young patient group, and the older patient group, the medial tibial slopes were 3.5° ± 1.4°, 6.1° ± 2.7°, and 7.2° ± 1.9°, respectively, and the ACL degeneration rates were 5.6%, 38.9%, and 43.3%, respectively. Young patients with MMPRT had significantly steeper medial tibial slopes and ACL degeneration compared to those of the healthy volunteers (P < 0.05). The parameters of young patients were similar to those of older patients with MMPRT. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, BMI, medial tibial slope, and ACL degeneration were significantly associated with MMPRT in young patients.

Conclusion

BMI, steep medial tibial slope, and ACL degeneration contribute to MMPRT development in younger patients.

Level of evidence

Level III.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for English language editing.

Funding

No funding was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kitaku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan

    Yuya Kodama, Takayuki Furumatsu, Masanori Tamura, Yuki Okazaki, Takaaki Hiranaka, Yusuke Kamatsuki & Toshifumi Ozaki

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital, 1-10-25 Midorimachi, Minamiku, Okayama, 702-8055, Japan

    Yuya Kodama

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kochi Health Sciences Center, 2125-1 Ike, Kochi, 781-8555, Japan

    Yusuke Kamatsuki

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  1. Yuya Kodama
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Contributions

TF: designed the study. MT, YO, and TH: contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data. All authors have contributed to data collection and interpretation and critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takayuki Furumatsu.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional review board.

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Kodama, Y., Furumatsu, T., Tamura, M. et al. Steep posterior slope of the medial tibial plateau and anterior cruciate ligament degeneration contribute to medial meniscus posterior root tears in young patients. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 31, 279–285 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-022-07095-z

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