title: Relationship between meniscal integrity and risk factors for cartilage degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to use MRI to determine if a loss of meniscal intra-substance integrity, as determined by T2* relaxation time, is associated with an increase of Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade, and if this was correlated with risk factors for cartilage degeneration, namely meniscal extrusion, contact area and anterior-posterior (AP) displacement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven symptomatic knees with a KL 2 to 4 and 11 control knees with a KL 0 to 1 were studied. A 3 Tesla MRI scanner was used to scan all knees at 15° of flexion. With a 222N compression applied, a 3D SPACE sequence was obtained, followed by a spin echo 3D T2* mapping sequence. Next, an internal tibial torque of 5Nm was added and a second 3D SPACE sequence obtained. The MRI scans were post-processed to evaluate meniscal extrusion, contact area, AP displacement and T2* relaxation time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KL grade was correlated with T2* relaxation time for both the anterior medial meniscus (r=0.79, p<0.001) and the posterior lateral meniscus (r=0.55, p=0.009). In addition, T2* relaxation time was found to be correlated with risk factors for cartilage degeneration. The largest increases in meniscal extrusion and decreases in contact area were noted for those with meniscal tears (KL 3 to 4). All patients with KL 3 to 4 indicated evidence of meniscal tears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This suggests that a loss of meniscal integrity, in the form of intra-substance degeneration, is correlated with risk factors for cartilage degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arno
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ravinder R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Regatte
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krasnokutsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Cheongeun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: ptrswlkr@aol.com.
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Anterior–posterior displacement; Meniscal extrusion; Meniscal integrity; Osteoarthritis; Tibio-femoral contact area