Abstract
Objective
To identify the commonly occurring patterns of small displaced tears of the menisci of the knee on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Materials and methods
A retrospective review of knee MRI scans over 16 months at two hospitals provided 70 studies with 73 displaced meniscal fragments for analysis. Fragment position was recorded.
Results
Two common positions were identified for medial fragments. For the medial meniscus, 93% of fragments were positioned medially or posterolaterally. The medially displaced fragments were positioned in either the superior or inferior recesses. Lateral meniscal fragments were more evenly dispersed.
Conclusion
The pattern of small displaced tears of the medial meniscus is highly predictable. Awareness of the typical locations of these fragments should aid the reporter in identifying these lesions on MRI.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dandy DJ. The arthroscopic anatomy of symptomatic meniscal lesions. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1990;72:628–33.
Rodkey WG. Basic biology of the meniscus and response to injury. Instr Course Lect. 2000;49:189–93.
McNally EG, Nasser KN, Dawson S, Goh LA. Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the clinical management of the acutely locked knee. Skeletal Radiol. 2002;31:570–3.
Ryzewicz M, Peterson B, Siparsky PN, Bartz RL. The diagnosis of meniscus tears: the role of MRI and clinical examination. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2007;455:123–33.
Lecas LK, Helms CA, Kosarek FJ, Garret WE. Inferiorly displaced flap tears of the medial meniscus: MR appearance and clinical significance. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2000;174:161–4.
Ruff C, Weingardt JP, Russ PD, Kilcoyne RF. MR imaging patterns of displaced meniscus injuries of the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998;170:63–7.
Weiss KL, Morehouse HT, Levy IM. Sagittal MR images of the knee: a low-signal band parallel to the posterior cruciate ligament caused by a displaced bucket-handle tear. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1991;156:117–9.
Helms CA, Laorr A, Cannon WD Jr. The absent bow tie sign in bucket-handle tears of the menisci in the knee. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1998;170:57–61.
Chen HC, Hsu CY, Shih TT, Huang KM, Li YW. MR imaging of displaced meniscal tears of the knee. Importance of a “disproportional posterior horn sign”. Acta Radiol. 2001;42:417–21.
Haramati N, Staron RB, Rubin S, Shreck EH, Feldman F, Kiernan H. The flipped meniscus sign. Skeletal Radiol. 1993;22:273–7.
Wright DH, De Smet AA, Norris M. Bucket-handle tears of the medial and lateral menisci of the knee: value of MR imaging in detecting displaced fragments. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1995;165:621–5.
Vande Berg BC, Malghem J, Poilvache P, Maldague B, Lecouvet FE. Meniscal tears with fragments displaced in notch and recesses of knee: MR imaging with arthroscopic comparison. Radiology. 2005;234:842–50.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McKnight, A., Southgate, J., Price, A. et al. Meniscal tears with displaced fragments: common patterns on magnetic resonance imaging. Skeletal Radiol 39, 279–283 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-009-0727-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-009-0727-5