title: A Special Tear Pattern of Anterior Horn of the Lateral Meniscus: Macerated Tear.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We describe a special, interesting phenomenon found in the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus (AHLM): most tear patterns in the AHLM are distinctive, with loose fibers in injured region and circumferential fiber bundles were separated. We name it as macerated tear. The goal of this study was to bring forward a new type of meniscal tear in the AHLM and investigate its clinical value.
  
  
  METHODS
  AHLM tears underwent arthroscopic surgery from January 2012 to December 2014 were included. Data regarding the integrity of AHLM were prospectively recorded in a data registry. Tear morphology and treatment received were subsequently extracted by 2 independent reviewers from operative notes and arthroscopic surgical photos.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 60 AHLM tears in 60 patients (mean age 27.1 years) were grouped into horizontal tears (n = 15, 25%), vertical tears (n = 14, 23%), complex tears (n = 6, 10%), and macerated tears (n = 25, 42%). There were 6 patients with AHLM cysts in macerated tear group and one patient in vertical tear group. 60 patients were performed arthroscopic meniscus repairs and were followed-up with averaged 18.7 months. Each group had significant postoperative improvement in Lysholm and IKDC scores (p < 0.05). However, the macerated tear group showed least functional recovery of Lysholm and IKDC scores compared to other groups (p < 0.05). In addition, there were no differences in postoperative range of motion, return to work, or return to sport/other baseline activities between the four groups (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the macerated tear is common in the tear pattern of AHLM. However, feasibility of the treatment of this type of meniscal tear, especially the meniscus repairs still requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiapeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wenliang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qianxin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Affiliated Southeast Hospital of Xiamen University, Zhangzhou, China.|Experimental Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Dasheng
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4568-2044
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012042:Registries; D012421:Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery