Meniscus Root Tears

Description

Mr Sam Oussedik gives his expert insights and discusses the anatomical and functional aspects of the meniscus in the knee joint. The meniscus, which is wedge-shaped, connects the more curved surface of the femur at the top and the flatter surface of the tibia below. The loading of the joint axially generates a natural translation force, emphasizing the importance of anchoring the meniscus to the bone through its roots. Disruption of these roots can lead to a meniscal blowout, causing the meniscus to extrude, thus narrowing the contact area between the femur and tibia which increases pressure and results in more wear on the cartilage. Patients experiencing this acute issue often report severe knee pain and may show signs of bone edema, commonly around the medial femoral condyle. Mr Oussedik also highlights the diagnostic value of MRI in spotting gaps in the meniscal roots, guiding treatment options like knee offloading or possible meniscal root repair surgery.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-251255

Specialties