title: Assessment of the Relationship between the Shape of the Lateral Meniscus and the Risk of Extrusion Based on MRI Examination of the Knee Joint.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meniscus extrusion is a serious and relatively frequent clinical problem. For this reason the role of different risk factors for this pathology is still the subject of debate. The goal of this study was to verify the results of previous theoretical work, based on the mathematical models, regarding a relationship between the cross-section shape of the meniscus and the risk of its extrusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knee MRI examination was performed in 77 subjects (43 men and 34 women), mean age 34.99 years (range: 18-49 years), complaining of knee pain. Patients with osteoarthritic changes (grade 3 and 4 to Kellgren classification), varus or valgus deformity and past injuries of the knee were excluded from the study. A 3-Tesla MR device was used to study the relationship between the shape of the lateral meniscus (using slope angle, meniscus-cartilage height and meniscus-bone angle) and the risk of extrusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis revealed that with values of slope angle and meniscus-bone angle increasing by one degree, the risk of meniscus extrusion raises by 1.157 and 1.078 respectively. Also, an increase in meniscus-cartilage height by 1 mm significantly elevates the risk of extrusion. At the same time it was demonstrated that for meniscus-bone angle values over 42 degrees and slope angle over 37 degrees the risk of extrusion increases significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first study to demonstrate a tight correlation between slope angle, meniscus-bone angle and meniscus-cartilage height values in the assessment of the risk of lateral meniscus extrusion. Insertion of the above parameters to the radiological assessment of the knee joint allows identification of patients characterized by an elevated risk of development of this pathology.
authors.affiliation: 2-nd Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szarmach
authors.affiliation: 2-nd Clinic of Orthopaedics and Kinetic Organ Traumatology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luczkiewicz
authors.affiliation: 2-nd Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skotarczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaszubowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Physiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1671-2163
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Winklewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dzierzanowski
authors.affiliation: 1-st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piskunowicz
authors.affiliation: 2-nd Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szurowska
authors.affiliation: 2-nd Clinic of Orthopaedics and Kinetic Organ Traumatology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baczkowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D012307:Risk Factors; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult