MRI follow-up of conservatively treated meniscal knee lesions in general practice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate meniscal status change on follow-up MRI after 1 year, prognostic factors and association with clinical outcome in patients with conservatively treated knee injury.


METHODS
We analysed 403 meniscal horns in 101 conservatively treated patients (59 male; mean age 40 years) in general practice who underwent initial knee MRI within 5 weeks of trauma. We performed ordinal logistic regression analysis to analyse prognostic factors for meniscal change on follow-up MRI after 1 year, and we assessed the association with clinical outcome.


RESULTS
On follow-up MRI 49 meniscal horns had deteriorated and 18 had improved. Age (odds ratio [OR] 1.3/decade), body weight (OR 1.2/10 kg), total anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture on initial MRI (OR 2.4), location in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (OR 3.0) and an initial meniscal lesion (OR 0.3) were statistically significant predictors of meniscal MRI appearance change after 1 year, which was not associated with clinical outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
In conservatively treated patients, meniscal deterioration on follow-up MRI 1 year after trauma is predicted by higher age and body weight, initial total ACL rupture, and location in the medial posterior horn. Change in MRI appearance is not associated with clinical outcome.
Oei
Edwin H G
EH
Program for the Assessment of Radiological Technology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Room Ee21-40a, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Koster
Ingrid M
IM
Hensen
Jan-Hein J
JH
Boks
Simone S
SS
Wagemakers
Harry P A
HP
Koes
Bart W
BW
Vroegindeweij
Dammis
D
Bierma-Zeinstra
Sita M A
SM
Hunink
M G Myriam
MG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome