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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 91-B, Issue 2,
190-195.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.91B2.21097 Copyright © 2009 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery Meniscal root injury and spontaneous osteonecrosis of the kneeAN OBSERVATIOND. D. Robertson, MD, PhD, Visiting Professor1; D. R. Armfield, MD, Radiologist2; J. D. Towers, MD, Associate Professor3; J. J. Irrgang, PhD, Professor4; W. J. Maloney, MD, Professor and Chair5; and C. D. Harner, MD, Professor4
1 Carnegie Mellon University, 403 Landon Gate, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238, USA. Correspondence should be sent to Professor D. D. Robertson; e-mail: ddrobertson2{at}hotmail.com
We describe injuries to the posterior root of the medial meniscus in patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial compartment of the knee. We identified 30 consecutive patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle. The radiographs and MR imaging were reviewed. We found tears of the posterior root of the medial meniscus in 24 patients (80%). Of these, 15 were complete and nine were partial. Complete tears were associated with > 3 mm of meniscal extrusion. Neither the presence of a root tear nor the volume of the osteonecrotic lesion were associated with age, body mass index (BMI), gender, side affected, or knee alignment. The grade of osteoarthritis was associated with BMI. Although tears of the posterior root of the medial meniscus were frequently present in patients with spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee, this does not prove cause and effect. Further study is warranted.
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