Signal intensity of repaired posterior roots after transtibial pullout repair for medial meniscus posterior root tears in stable knees: Magnetic resonance imaging evaluations at 3 years postoperatively

Koki Kawada; Takayuki Furumatsu; Yusuke Yokoyama; Naohiro Higashihara; Masanori Tamura; Toshifumi Ozaki

doi:10.1016/j.knee.2024.02.014

Signal intensity of repaired posterior roots after transtibial pullout repair for medial meniscus posterior root tears in stable knees: Magnetic resonance imaging evaluations at 3 years postoperatively

Knee. 2024 Mar 13:48:22-29. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2024.02.014. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Koki Kawada¹, Takayuki Furumatsu², Yusuke Yokoyama¹, Naohiro Higashihara¹, Masanori Tamura¹, Toshifumi Ozaki¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital, Okayama, Japan. Electronic address: matino@md.okayama-u.ac.jp.

PMID: 38484441
DOI: 10.1016/j.knee.2024.02.014

Abstract

Background: Only a few studies have assessed signal intensity after pullout repair for medial meniscus posterior root (MMPR) tears (MMPRTs) based on mid-term magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the quantitative signal intensity of repaired posterior roots over time, up to 3 years postoperatively, and the related factors.

Methods: This study included 36 patients who underwent pullout repair for MMPRTs and MRI examinations using the same MRI system. The signal intensity of the repaired posterior roots was quantitatively evaluated using the signal-to-noise quotient (SNQ). Medial meniscus extrusion (MME), the SNQ for MMPR, and clinical scores were assessed over 3 years postoperatively.

Results: MME progressed over time until 3 years postoperatively, and its progression during this period was 1.61 ± 1.44 mm. The SNQ for MMPR decreased over time until 3 years postoperatively, and the change in the SNQ from 3 months to 3 years postoperatively (ΔSNQ) was 2.69 ± 1.69. All clinical scores significantly improved (p < 0.001). ΔSNQ was significantly correlated with body weight (correlation coefficient = -0.424, p = 0.010) and body mass index (correlation coefficient = -0.330, p = 0.050). However, ΔSNQ was not significantly correlated with preoperative or postoperative clinical scores.

Conclusion: After pullout repair for MMPRTs, MME progressed to 3 years postoperatively. However, the signal intensity of the repaired posterior roots decreased, and clinical scores improved over time until 3 years postoperatively. Patient weight and body mass index were significantly correlated with the reduced signal intensity of the repaired posterior roots, suggesting that weight assessment in patients with MMPRTs is crucial.

Level of evidence: IV.

Keywords: Clinical score; Meniscus; Meniscus extrusion; Posterior root tear; Signal intensity.