Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

MRI of displaced meniscal fragments

  • Pictorial Essay
  • Published:
Pediatric Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A torn meniscus frequently requires surgical fixation or debridement as definitive treatment. Meniscal tears with associated fragment displacement, such as bucket handle and flap tears, can be difficult to recognize and accurately describe on MRI, and displaced fragments can be challenging to identify at surgery. A displaced meniscal fragment can be obscured by synovium or be in a location not usually evaluated at arthroscopy. We present a pictorial essay of meniscal tears with displaced fragments in patients referred to a pediatric hospital in order to increase recognition and accurate interpretation by the radiologist, who in turn can help assist the surgeon in planning appropriate therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Vande Berg BC, Malghem J, Poilvache P et al (2005) Meniscal tears with fragments displaced in notch and recesses of knee: MR imaging with arthroscopic comparison. Radiology 234:842–850

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Helms CA (2002) The meniscus: recent advances in MR imaging of the knee. AJR 179:1115–1122

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lecas LK, Helms CA, Kosarek FJ et al (2000) Inferiorly displaced flap tears of the medial meniscus: MR appearance and clinical significance. AJR 174:161–164

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Munk B, Madsen F, Lundorf E et al (1998) Clinical magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic findings in knees: a comparative prospective study of meniscus anterior cruciate ligament and cartilage lesions. Arthroscopy 14:171–175

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kramer DE, Micheli LJ (2009) Meniscal tears and discoid meniscus in children: diagnosis and treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 17:698–707

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Tandogan RN, Taser O, Kayaalp A et al (2004) Analysis of meniscal and chondral lesions accompanying anterior cruciate ligament tears: relationship with age, time from injury, and level of sport. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthorsc 12:262–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Remer EM, Fitzgerald SW, Friedman H et al (1992) Anterior cruciate ligament injury: MR imaging diagnosis and patterns of injury. Radiographics 12:901–915

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bellisari G, Samora W, Klingele K (2011) Meniscus tears in children. Sports Med Arthrosc 19:50–55

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Samora WP, Palmer R, Klingele KE (2011) Meniscal pathology associated with acute anterior cruciate ligament tears in patients with open physes. J Pediatr Orthop 31:272–276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Terzidis IP, Christodoulou A, Ploumis A et al (2006) Meniscal tear characteristics in young athletes with a stable knee: arthroscopic evaluation. Am J Sports Med 34:1170–1175

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Stoller DW (2007) Magnetic resonance imaging in orthopaedics and sports medicine, 3rd edn, volume 1, lower extremity. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 377–432

    Google Scholar 

  12. Newman AP, Daniels AU, Burks RT (1993) Principles and decision making in meniscal surgery. Arthroscopy 9:33–51

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Helms CA, Laorr A, Cannon WD (1998) The absent bow tie sign in bucket-handle tears of the menisci in the knee. AJR 170:57–61

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Weiss KL, Morehouse HT, Levy IM (1990) Sagittal MR images of the knee: a low-signal band parallel to the posterior cruciate ligament caused by a displaced bucket-handle tear. AJR 150:117–119

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ruff C, Weingardt JP, Russ PD et al (1998) MR imaging patterns of displaced meniscus injuries of the knee. AJR 170:63–67

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wright DH, De Smet AA, Norris M (1995) Bucket-handle tears of the medial and lateral menisci of the knee: value of MR imaging in detecting displaced fragments. AJR 165:621–625

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. McKnight A, Southgate J, Price A et al (2010) Meniscal tears with displaced fragments: common patterns on magnetic resonance imaging. Skeletal Radiol 39:279–283

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ryu KN, Kim IS, Kim EJ et al (1998) MR imaging of tears of discoid lateral menisci. AJR 171:963–967

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Eskander MS, Drew JM, Osuch DB et al (2010) A lateral meniscus tear incarcerated behind the popliteus tendon: a case report. Knee 17:359–361

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Marx RG, Ryu JH (2009) Displacement of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus into the posterolateral compartment: an unusual injury pattern. HSSJ 5:9–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian Dunoski.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dunoski, B., Zbojniewicz, A.M. & Laor, T. MRI of displaced meniscal fragments. Pediatr Radiol 42, 104–112 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2231-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2231-z

Keywords

Navigation