Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study of Normal Menisci

Abstract

AIMS:The purpose of this study is to determine dimensions of menisci on MRI. The standard dimensions of lateral and medial menisci shall help us to differentiate between normal and abnormal menisci, and this may be important for planning surgical interventions in knee joint. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 100 Indian patients with history of knee pain were subjected to MRI. None of the patients had any pathological signal intensity suggesting meniscal tear. Patients were scanned in supine position with knees extended. All patients were studied in sagittal and coronal planes. The Anterior horn, Posterior horn and Mid-body of menisci were examined in sagittal and coronal plane for the following parameters: Height and width of Anterior and Posterior horn of lateral and medial meniscus on sagittal plane. Height and width of mid-body of lateral and medial menisci on coronal plane. Height and width of anterior and posterior horn were measured on sagittal plane where the highest and widest meniscal size was observed. The mid-body was measured at the level of intercondylar eminence, in the coronal plane. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Comparison of variables was done with paired sample t-test. Two-tailed p-values <0.05 were considered as significant. The SPSS 10.0 program was used for the purpose of statistical analyses. Data, presented as mean +-SD. RESULT: Following results were seen: Height of anterior and posterior horn of medial meniscus was greater than lateral. Width of anterior horn and mid-body of lateral meniscus was greater than medial. Posterior horn of medial meniscus is the widest part and greater than lateral. In the anterior and posterior thirds, the medial meniscus was significantly more thick (p <0.05) than the lateral. Posterior third part of medial meniscus was the widest. (p <0.05). Results of this study showed an important relation between morphometric data of menisci and clinical data, i.e. it was seen that, more meniscal tears were seen where height and width of meniscus was less. This study shall also be useful for tissue banks and surgeons, for meniscal sizing during transplantation.