Meniscal ossicle was first reported in 1931 and later by Burrows [1] and by Watson-Jones and Roberts [2] in 1934. To the best of our knowledge, it has been reported 42 times so far [3, 4]. Most of the reported cases were located in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus [5, 6]. The meniscal ossicle in our case was also located in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus.
Ossicles are mature lamellar and cancellous bone containing fatty bone marrow surrounded by hyaline cartilage [7]. Many theories have been put forward regarding the etiology of meniscal ossicles. They may be vestigial structures, as they are common in rodents, domestic cats and Bengal tigers [2], or they may represent a degenerative phenomenon due to the ossification of mucoid degeneration [5]; however, this is unlikely, as ossicles occur mostly in younger men, before the onset of significant mucoid degeneration [8]. A traumatic etiology has also been put forth, suggesting that the ossicles represent heterotopic ossification [9]; or they may represent bone fragments arising from the tibial attachment of the meniscal root insertion. This theory is supported by the fact that the most common location for meniscal ossicles is in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus [1, 8], which shows a strong attachment to the tibia and reduced mobility and is thus more prone to an avulsion tear. The normal contour of the adjoining bone on MRI, however, argues against this theory [8]. In short, there is no definite consensus on the etiology of meniscal ossicles.
Most patients complain of intermittent pain, as in our case. According to Van Breuseghem et al. [3], a locking sensation is usually not experienced as expected with a free intra-articular body, but this is not always true, as our patient had intermittent locking, and the two patients reported by Schnarkowski et al. [8] also had locking. So this clinical sign is not a definite criterion for distinguishing a meniscal ossicle from a loose body.
Radiologically, the commonest misdiagnosis is a loose body. A lateral X-ray knee shows a triangular radiodense opacity projected over the posterior joint line. On fluoroscopy, the ossicle moves with the tibia during knee rotation [7]. USG can distinguish between loose bodies and ossicles, but it is operator dependent. This differentiation can also be made with arthrography and CT arthrography, but these are invasive procedures [10].
MRI can easily depict the location of ossicles within the substance of the meniscus [8, 11], thus distinguishing them from loose bodies, chondrocalcinosis, osteochondritis dessicans and semimembranosus and popliteal tendon avulsions [8]. Their characteristic isointensity to adjacent normal bone marrow, along with a hypointense rim, further distinguishes them from loose bodies and chondrocalcinosis, the latter being hypointense on T1W images. MRI also helps to identify associated abnormalities like meniscal tears, ligament tears and avulsions, cartilage damage, and synovial effusion, and hence is the modality of choice for assessing such cases.
Meniscal ossicles must be distinguished from loose bodies, as loose bodies require surgical removal while meniscal ossicles can be managed conservatively (as in our case), and arthroscopic removal can be retained as a last option. Van Breuseghem et al. [3] and Glass et al. [12] recommend surgical removal of the loose body, and further add that meniscal ossicles can be managed conservatively. The literature is silent about the appropriate type of conservative management. Arthroscopy is a definitive modality, and arthroscopic removal of ossicles is usually the last resort [4]. MRI can definitely distinguish between the two, and diagnostic arthroscopy can be avoided.