Clinical trial NCT03632707: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Medial Meniscal Posterior Root Tear
Official title: Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Posterior Medial Meniscal Root Tear of the Knee
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Medial Meniscus, Posterior Horn Derangement
Lead sponsor: Assiut University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-08-15
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 16
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: DIAGNOSTIC

Brief summary: The aim of this study is to evaluate and analyze the role of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of medial meniscal posterior root tears, including the normal variations in meniscal anatomy that may resemble a meniscal tear, and identifying the causes or nature of posterior medial meniscal root tear(degenerative versus traumatic) and correlate the results with the standard reference knee Arthroscopy.In addition to identifying and estimating the suspected cases of meniscal extrusion by making MRI with stress varus overloading simulating weight bearing.

Detailed description: The knee joint is one of the most important joints in the human body responsible for weight-bearing and a group of complex movements during ordinary life activities and even in vigorous sports making it susceptible to different traumatic injuries.Knee pain is considered as one of the most common complaints of patients presenting to clinical practitioners.There are many structures within the knee which can cause pain. By far, one of the most common causes of knee pain is a meniscus tear.The meniscus is the most important cushion in the knee; It plays an important bio mechanical role in axial load distribution of the knees. If the meniscus is injured and the cushioning is lost, arthritis and pain can occur.Menisci can tear due to traumatic injury or degenerative wear, meniscal root tears are a type of meniscal tear in the knee where the tear extends to either the anterior or posterior meniscal root attachment to the central tibial plateau. They often tend to be radial tears extending into the root.The medial meniscal posterior root tear can occur especially in middle-aged or older patients who have a single event of posteromedial painful popping sensation during light activities.Magnetic resonance imaging is well established as the best imaging modality for evaluating a patient with suspected meniscal pathology, involving the medial meniscal posterior horn root.In recent years, posterior meniscal root tears have received increasing attention in both Arthroscopic and Magnetic resonance study. All sequences of Magnetic resonance imaging should be reviewed, but T2 weighted coronal sections should provide the best visualization of the posterior roots. The Magnetic resonance findings of a medial meniscal posterior radial root tear are shortening or absence of the root (ghost sign) on sagittal images and a vertical fluid cleft with truncation sign and features of meniscal extrusion on coronal images.

It is very important to avoid errors in diagnosing meniscal root tears. So interpreting Magnetic resonance examinations of the knee need to be aware of the attachments of the menisci and to understand the normal variations in meniscal anatomy that may resemble a meniscal tear.

Tears of the meniscal root are relatively uncommon, occurring in 2.2% - 9.8% of patients undergoing Magnetic resonance imaging of the knee.However, it is important that these tears be diagnosed as several complications of meniscal root tear, including meniscal extrusion, secondary osteoarthritis, and subchondral insufficiency fracture.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients of either sex from more than 16 years, having acute or chronic painful knee associated with popping sounds are included in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who are contraindicated to Magnetic Resonance Imaging examination as those who have artificial cardiac pacemaker or metallic prosthesis not compatible with Magnetic Resonance Imaging or those with severe claustrophobia.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Patients complain of painful knee joint associated with popping sounds and clinically suspected of medial meniscal posterior root tear will examined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
timeFrame: 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Assiut
country: Egypt
facility: Ashgan Ali Abdo Qardash
Study officials:
affiliation: Assiut University
name: Nisreen A. Abbas, MD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Barile A, Conti L, Lanni G, Calvisi V, Masciocchi C. Evaluation of medial meniscus tears and meniscal stability: weight-bearing MRI vs arthroscopy. Eur J Radiol. 2013 Apr;82(4):633-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2012.10.018. Epub 2012 Nov 28.
citation: Park HJ, Kim SS, Lee SY, Choi YJ, Chung EC, Rho MH, Kwag HJ. Medial meniscal root tears and meniscal extrusion transverse length ratios on MRI. Br J Radiol. 2012 Nov;85(1019):e1032-7. doi: 10.1259/bjr/26261821.
citation: Carreau JH, Sitton SE, Bollier M. Medial Meniscus Root Tear in the Middle Aged Patient: A Case Based Review. Iowa Orthop J. 2017;37:123-132.
citation: Costa CR, Morrison WB, Carrino JA. Medial meniscus extrusion on knee MRI: is extent associated with severity of degeneration or type of tear? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2004 Jul;183(1):17-23. doi: 10.2214/ajr.183.1.1830017.