Menisco discoide en niños y adolescentes: correlación entre la morfología y la presencia de lesiones / Discoid meniscus in children and adolescents: Correlation between morphology and meniscal tears

Introducción: Algunos autores han sugerido que su menor vascularización, la estabilidad periférica y el grosor del menisco discoide (MD) lo predispondrían a lesionarse. Los objetivos de este estudio son: 1) Analizar las características morfológicas por resonancia magnética (RM) de este grupo, y 2) Correlacionar el tamaño del menisco con la presencia de lesiones del menisco afectado. Métodos: Se evaluaron todas las RM de rodilla en pacientes ≤18 años en un período de 5 años y se identificaron aquellas con diagnóstico de MD. Se analizaron datos demográficos, localización, morfología, presencia de lesión intrameniscal, el patrón de la misma, desplazamiento y otros hallazgos asociados. Se calculó además la altura y altura por ancho meniscal (AxA). La correlación entre las variables: morfología, altura y AxA con la presencia de lesión fue analizada estadísticamente. Resultados: Se evaluaron 685 RM de 675 pacientes. Cuarenta y tres rodillas (38 pacientes, 20 masculinos) presentaban MD (6,3%). La edad promedio fue de 12,2±3,8 años (r: 4-18 años). Los pacientes con MD completo tuvieron mayor incidencia de lesiones (77,3 vs. 47,6%; p=0,001). Las lesiones en asa de cubo y complejas (n=11) solo se presentaron en pacientes con MD completo. Los MD con lesión presentaron una tendencia no significativa a tener mayor altura meniscal y mayor AxA (6,29±1,26 vs. 5,75±0,66mm; p=0,20 y 107,5±36,02 vs. 91,54±16,5mm2; p=0,162). Conclusión: Los resultados de esta serie apoyan la teoría de que el mayor tamaño meniscal sería uno de los principales factores que predisponen a que el MD se lesione

Background: Some authors have suggested that the diminished vascular blood supply, peripheral stability and thickness of the discoid meniscus (DM) would make it more prone to tears. The aims of this study are two-fold: 1) To analyse morphological characteristics by magnetic resonance (MRI), and 2) To correlate the size of the meniscus with the presence of meniscal tears. Methods: The MRI of patients ≤18 years-old over a period of 5 years were reviewed, and patients with DM were identified. We analysed demographic data, location (medial or lateral), morphology (Watanabe), meniscal tears (Crues classification), pattern, displacement, and other associated findings. Meniscal height and thickness per width (TxW) were also calculated. The correlation between variables: morphology, height and TxW with the presence of meniscal tears were statistically analysed. Results: Six hundred and eighty-five MRI (675 patients) were analysed. Forty-three knees (38 patients, 20 males) were found to have a DM (6.3%). The average age was 12.2±3.8 years (range: 4-18 years). Sixty-three percent had some type of meniscal injury. Patients with complete MD had a higher incidence of injuries (77.3 vs. 47.6%; P=.001). Longitudinal (bucket handle) and complex tears (n ??=11) only occurred in patients with complete DM. DM with tears presented a nonsignificant tendency to have higher meniscal height and higher TxW (6.29±1.26 vs 5.75±.66mm; P=.20 and 107.5±36.02 vs. 91.54±16.5mm2; P=.162). Conclusion: The results of this series support the theory that a larger meniscal size would be one of the main predisposing factors for the DM to be injured

Discoid meniscus in children and adolescents: Correlation between morphology and meniscal tears. / Menisco discoide en niños y adolescentes: correlación entre la morfología y la presencia de lesiones.

BACKGROUND: Some authors have suggested that the diminished vascular blood supply, peripheral stability and thickness of the discoid meniscus (DM) would make it more prone to tears. The aims of this study are two-fold: 1) To analyse morphological characteristics by magnetic resonance (MRI), and 2) To correlate the size of the meniscus with the presence of meniscal tears. METHODS: The MRI of patients ≤18 years-old over a period of 5 years were reviewed, and patients with DM were identified. We analysed demographic data, location (medial or lateral), morphology (Watanabe), meniscal tears (Crues classification), pattern, displacement, and other associated findings. Meniscal height and thickness per width (TxW) were also calculated. The correlation between variables: morphology, height and TxW with the presence of meniscal tears were statistically analysed. RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty-five MRI (675 patients) were analysed. Forty-three knees (38 patients, 20 males) were found to have a DM (6.3%). The average age was 12.2±3.8 years (range: 4-18 years). Sixty-three percent had some type of meniscal injury. Patients with complete MD had a higher incidence of injuries (77.3 vs. 47.6%; P=.001). Longitudinal (bucket handle) and complex tears (n ??=11) only occurred in patients with complete DM. DM with tears presented a nonsignificant tendency to have higher meniscal height and higher TxW (6.29±1.26 vs 5.75±.66mm; P=.20 and 107.5±36.02 vs. 91.54±16.5mm2; P=.162). CONCLUSION: The results of this series support the theory that a larger meniscal size would be one of the main predisposing factors for the DM to be injured. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study (Level of evidence: III).