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What Does "intrasubstance Intermediate Signal Within The Posterior Horn Of The Lateral Meniscus" Mean?
Question: Hi, I recently had a MRI Due to ongoing knee pain. It showed some intrasubstance intermediate signal within the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. No lateral meniscal tear.
The body of the medial meniscus was macerated with loss of volume, with residual meniscal tissues extruded into the medial gutter, extending 4mm into the superior parameniscal recess. There is amorphous intermediate signal within the substance of the anterior and posterior horns of the medial meniscus, in keeping with myxoid degeneration, but no discrete tear is identified.
Would surgery help with this situation and what would that entail? I am a 60 year old male wishing to remain active.
The body of the medial meniscus was macerated with loss of volume, with residual meniscal tissues extruded into the medial gutter, extending 4mm into the superior parameniscal recess. There is amorphous intermediate signal within the substance of the anterior and posterior horns of the medial meniscus, in keeping with myxoid degeneration, but no discrete tear is identified.
Would surgery help with this situation and what would that entail? I am a 60 year old male wishing to remain active.
Brief Answer:
Surgery is unlikely to be beneficial.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar,
After going through your query I concluded that you are having degenerative changes of meniscus. You are already taking glucosamine, Chondroitin, calcium, vitd3 and trace element supplements. You are already doing physiotherapy.I generally recommend in addition to these supplements Diacerine to such persons coming to my clinic with good results. It prevents and slows degenerative process.You can take Diacerine(if not already taking) in addition to other supplements with consultation with your treating Doctor. For pain relief analgesic such as ibuprofen is useful. Surgery for above mentioned finding is not useful in my opinion as removing menisci will lead to increase in degenerative process(as these act as protective cushion for joint).
Furthermore you have not mentioned about cartilage and bone in MRI report which can be further informative.
You can discuss with your treating Doctor about it.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
You can also write to me directly on below link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
Surgery is unlikely to be beneficial.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar,
After going through your query I concluded that you are having degenerative changes of meniscus. You are already taking glucosamine, Chondroitin, calcium, vitd3 and trace element supplements. You are already doing physiotherapy.I generally recommend in addition to these supplements Diacerine to such persons coming to my clinic with good results. It prevents and slows degenerative process.You can take Diacerine(if not already taking) in addition to other supplements with consultation with your treating Doctor. For pain relief analgesic such as ibuprofen is useful. Surgery for above mentioned finding is not useful in my opinion as removing menisci will lead to increase in degenerative process(as these act as protective cushion for joint).
Furthermore you have not mentioned about cartilage and bone in MRI report which can be further informative.
You can discuss with your treating Doctor about it.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
You can also write to me directly on below link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Dear Dr. The rest of the MRI results to me seemed ok but I will post for your info.
LIGAMENTS- The poplitues musculotendendinous jctn. demonstrates edema, suggestive of muscle strain. The popliteus tendon is intact, remainder of lateral supporting structures are intact
FEMOROTIBIAL COMPARTMENTS- There is mild femoral and tibial sided articular cartilage fraying with mild subchondral sclerosis and marginal osteophytosis within the medial femoral-tibial compartment.
EXTENSOR MECHANISM-The patellofemoral compartment is congruent. the medial and lateral patella retinaculina are unremarkable. The trochlear notch is well formed, some cartilage fissuring of the medial trochlear facet. quadriceps and patellar tendons are unremarkable and intact. Hoffas Fat pad is unremarkable.
OTHERS- Small Joint effusion. No intra-articular osteochondral bodies appreciated Small Bakers cyst. Mild subcutaneous edema. Small volume fluid around the semimembranosus tendon is nonspecific.
IMPRESSION
1. Extensive maceration of the body of the medial meniscus with extrusion into the medial gutter and extension into the superior parameniscal recess. Myxoid degeneration of the anterior and posterior horns.
2. Myxoid degeneration within the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus without a discrete tear.
3. Muscle strain at the popliteus musculotendinous junction.
4. Mild medial and patellofemoral osteoarthritus.
Follow up question. I don't suppose you see anything above to say that surgery might help? Is it possible to heal and get better or is it as good as it gets now and we are only trying to stop further degeneration?
Thankyou for you're Opinions
XXXXXXX
LIGAMENTS- The poplitues musculotendendinous jctn. demonstrates edema, suggestive of muscle strain. The popliteus tendon is intact, remainder of lateral supporting structures are intact
FEMOROTIBIAL COMPARTMENTS- There is mild femoral and tibial sided articular cartilage fraying with mild subchondral sclerosis and marginal osteophytosis within the medial femoral-tibial compartment.
EXTENSOR MECHANISM-The patellofemoral compartment is congruent. the medial and lateral patella retinaculina are unremarkable. The trochlear notch is well formed, some cartilage fissuring of the medial trochlear facet. quadriceps and patellar tendons are unremarkable and intact. Hoffas Fat pad is unremarkable.
OTHERS- Small Joint effusion. No intra-articular osteochondral bodies appreciated Small Bakers cyst. Mild subcutaneous edema. Small volume fluid around the semimembranosus tendon is nonspecific.
IMPRESSION
1. Extensive maceration of the body of the medial meniscus with extrusion into the medial gutter and extension into the superior parameniscal recess. Myxoid degeneration of the anterior and posterior horns.
2. Myxoid degeneration within the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus without a discrete tear.
3. Muscle strain at the popliteus musculotendinous junction.
4. Mild medial and patellofemoral osteoarthritus.
Follow up question. I don't suppose you see anything above to say that surgery might help? Is it possible to heal and get better or is it as good as it gets now and we are only trying to stop further degeneration?
Thankyou for you're Opinions
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Surgery not needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
After going through your query and follow up query I want to say that surgery is not needed.Diacerine slows degenerative process while glucosamine and Chondroitin regenerates the articular cartilage to some extend. But as aging is continuous process leading to degeneration so net effect will be slow degeneration. But symptoms such as pain may stop after few months of supplements and joints feel smooth on movements. Rest already been discussed.You can discuss with your Doctor about it.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
If you have no clarification then you can close the query and rate the answer.
You can also write to me directly on below link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
Surgery not needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
After going through your query and follow up query I want to say that surgery is not needed.Diacerine slows degenerative process while glucosamine and Chondroitin regenerates the articular cartilage to some extend. But as aging is continuous process leading to degeneration so net effect will be slow degeneration. But symptoms such as pain may stop after few months of supplements and joints feel smooth on movements. Rest already been discussed.You can discuss with your Doctor about it.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.
If you have no clarification then you can close the query and rate the answer.
You can also write to me directly on below link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho
Wishing you a good health.
Take care.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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