## 1 Introduction  
The menisci are crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structures in the knee joint that play a key role in load distribution; protection of articular cartilage; proprioception; and joint stability, lubrication, and nutrition [1, 2, 3]. The C-shaped medial meniscus is less mobile, being primarily involved in shock absorption and load distribution. Its structural constraints predispose it to a higher incidence of tearing, particularly during twisting or rotational movements [4]. The more circular and uniformly thick lateral meniscus is more mobile, contributing less to stability but more to joint congruity during movement [5]. The two menisci, hence, exhibit different injury patterns. The more common medial meniscus tears are often associated with degenerative changes or trauma. The less common lateral meniscus tears occur more frequently in younger, active individuals or as part of more complex injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament tears [6]. Meniscal injuries--mainly known as meniscus tears--are the most frequent type of intra-articular knee trauma in adults, reaching a prevalence of 12-14% and an average annual incidence of 60-70 cases per 100,000 individuals [7; 8; 9; 10]. Restoring the normal anatomy of the menisci post-injury is essential for preserving proper knee biomechanics [8; 9]. In fact, meniscus-deficient knees display a higher likelihood of developing osteoarthritis [11; 12; 13]. Notably, the etiological and pathophysiological factors behind meniscal tears differ significantly across age groups [12]. For example, younger adults under 30 years are more prone to trauma-related meniscus tears, whereas degenerative tears are more common in older patients [14]. The prevalence of lateral meniscus tears declines with age, being more common in patients younger than 20 years; the inverse pattern is observed for medial meniscal tears [6]. It is also known that meniscal tears are more common in men than women, with a male-to-female ratio between 2.5:1 and 4:1 [6; 15]. Moreover, other determinants, including physical activity, socioeconomic status, occupation, and clinical factors (e.g., obesity, joint alignment abnormalities, previous meniscal injuries) can influence both the incidence and specific presentation of meniscal lesions [7; 16]. In addition to meniscal injuries, knee chondropathy is often observed in conjunction with meniscus tears. This term is used here to define a disease, damage, or degeneration of the articular cartilage covering the bone ends in joints (femur, tibia, patella) [17]. This pathology can compromise the structural integrity of the knee joint, leading to accelerated degenerative changes [17; 18]. The coexistence of knee chondropathy and meniscal rupture (tears) could, hence, exacerbate clinical outcomes by further contributing to joint instability and hindering the healing capacity of the affected tissues. Moreover, inflammation affecting both the synovium and meniscus contribute to knee pain and functional symptoms in patients with meniscal tears. This interaction plays a clinically relevant role, as targeting inflammation within the synovial membrane and meniscal tissue may help alleviate preoperative symptoms and improve functional outcomes [19]. In this context, the meniscus has been a field of extensive research over the past decades. Research has covered a wide spectrum of topics--from prevention and prevalence to injury mechanisms and treatment--with thousands of articles published in recent years [20; 21]. However, several knowledge gaps still persist. First, the interplay between age, sex, and meniscal tears is yet to be fully understood [20; 21]. Second, little information is available about the prevalence of different types of meniscal lesions in subjects undergoing first-time meniscal surgery [9; 12; 22]. These patients provide an unaltered perspective of meniscal pathologies, enabling more precise determination of the types, locations, and severity of tears before surgical intervention or postoperative changes affect the tissue.