Abstract
ObjectivesTo determine meniscal extrusion and cartilage coverage on magnetic resonance (MR) images and factors associated with these parameters in knees of middle-aged and elderly persons free from radiographic tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsSeven hundred eighteen persons, free of radiographic tibiofemoral OA, aged 50–90 years from Framingham, MA, USA, were included. We measured meniscal extrusion on 1.5 T MRI of both knees to evaluate both medial and lateral meniscal body extrusion and cartilage coverage. We also determined meniscal morphology and structural integrity. The multivariable association with age, body mass index (BMI), and ipsilateral meniscal damage was also evaluated.ResultsThe mean meniscal body extrusion medially was 2.7 mm and laterally 1.8 mm. The tibial cartilage coverage was about 30% of ipsilateral cartilage surface (both compartments). The presence of ipsilateral meniscal damage was associated with more extrusion in only the medial compartment, 1.0 mm in men and 0.6 mm in women, and less cartilage coverage proportion, -5.5% in men and -4.6% in women.ConclusionsMean medial meniscal body extrusion in middle-aged or older persons without radiographic tibiofemoral OA approximates the commonly used cutoff (3 mm) to denote pathological extrusion. Medial meniscal damage is a factor associated with medial meniscal body extrusion and less cartilage coverage.Key Points• Medial meniscal extrusion in middle-aged/older persons without OA is around 3 mm.• Lateral meniscal extrusion in middle-aged/older persons without OA is around 2 mm.• Meniscal damage is associated with medial meniscal extrusion and less cartilage coverage.
Highlights
Knee magnetic resonance (MR) imagingThe menisci of the knee are two fibrocartilaginous discs located on the medial and lateral sides of the knee joint
Meniscal damage is associated with medial meniscal extrusion and less cartilage coverage
In the present original report, we asked the following questions: (1) what is the meniscal body extrusion and coverage in a sample representative of the general population of middle-aged and elderly without radiographic tibiofemoral OA? What are the potential associations with age, body mass index (BMI), and meniscus damage in men and women, respectively? For this purpose, we used a comprehensive cohort of over 700 persons representative of the general population from Framingham, USA, with knees considered radiographically normal
Summary
Knee MR imagingThe menisci of the knee are two fibrocartilaginous discs located on the medial and lateral sides of the knee joint. There is very limited information of extent of meniscus extrusion and cartilage coverage of the meniscus of middle-aged and elderly free of tibiofemoral OA, i.e., not selected on the basis of attending a clinic as a patient, or having knee symptoms, or having risk factors for OA [23]. This information is needed to better understand what is Bnormal.^ Further, there is still quite limited information on common demographic factors associated with meniscus body extrusion as, e.g., gender [16, 24,25,26]. In the present original report, we asked the following questions: (1) what is the meniscal body extrusion and coverage in a sample representative of the general population of middle-aged and elderly without radiographic tibiofemoral OA? What are the potential associations with age, body mass index (BMI), and meniscus damage in men and women, respectively? For this purpose, we used a comprehensive cohort of over 700 persons representative of the general population from Framingham, USA, with knees considered radiographically normal
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