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What Does This MRI Report Regarding Meniscal Tear Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 22 Apr 2015

Question: I was recently diagnosed with a posterior horn root tear of the lateral meniscus, and I would like to have a radiologist evaluate my MRI study and provide a second opinion. How bad does the root tear look? Is it a complete tear, or only a partial tear? Also, do you think it is likely to heal without surgery?

The link to download the MRI study is below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4peHkrULoWbeF9WZFBGcWdnYU0/view?usp=sharing

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
There appears a partial tear in posterior horn of lateral meniscus.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

I have gone through your uploaded images in detail.
There appears a partial tear in posterior horn of lateral meniscus attached to root.
There is also minimal joint effusion.
Other findings appears normal.
ACL and PCL appears normal.Medial meniscus also appears normal.
Bony structures also appears normal.There is no bony contusion in knee joint.

Partial meniscal tear with minimal fluid in knee joint may be related to trauma.
Generally this condition need conservative treatment in the form of physiotherapy and analgesics.
You need clinical evaluation by a orthopedician.I don't think you will need any surgical intervention.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (2 hours later)

Dr. XXXXXXX thanks for providing advice. I just have a few other questions. In general, how bad is the partial tear? For example, is the entire root almost torn? Or is it just a very small tear (e.g., only 10-15% of the root is torn, and 85-90% is still attached)?

Thanks...

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is an unusual site of injury.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

This is an unusual site of injury.Meniscal tear appears small.This need clinical correlation and it is important to correlate with your symptoms.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (2 hours later)

Dr. XXXXXXX thank you for the additional information. I just have one more question. Is there any root attachment remaining at the site? In other words, is the root still partially attached, at least? Also, is there any way to determine the size (in terms of millimeters) of the tear, based on the MRI?

Thanks....

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It seems that it is partially attached to root inferiorly.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Sorry for replying late

It seems that meniscus is partially attached to root inferiorly.
Measurement in terms of mm is possible by MRI software itself means where MRI is done.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Indu Kumar (16 minutes later)

Thanks for the additional information. Just to clarify, did you mean to say that the meniscus is partially attached to the root posteriorly (not inferiorly)?

Also, I just have one other question that I forgot to ask earlier. Is there any meniscal extrusion present?

Thank you, sorry for the additional questions....

Answered by Dr. Indu Kumar (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Inferiorly means lower end.

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Inferiorly means lower end.
There is no meniscal extrusion.

Get well soon.
Hope I have answered your question.
Further queries are most welcome.

Take Care
Dr.Indu XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar