title: Should the meniscal height be considered for preoperative sizing in meniscal transplantation?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In preoperative sizing for meniscal transplantation, most authors take into consideration the length and width of the original meniscus, but not its height. This study aimed at evaluating (1) whether the meniscal height is associated with the meniscal length and width, (2) whether the heights of the meniscal segments are associated with the individual's anthropometric data, (3) whether the heights of the meniscal segments are associated with each other in the same meniscus, and (4) the degree of symmetry of the meniscal dimensions between the right and left knees.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional, observational study, two independent radiologists measured the meniscal length, width and height in knee magnetic resonance imaging scans obtained from 25 patients with patello-femoral pain syndrome. Reproducibility of measurements was calculated with intraclass correlation coefficients. Associations between the anthropometric data and the meniscal measurements, the meniscal length and width versus height, and the heights of the meniscal segments in the same meniscus were examined with Pearson's correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inter-observer reliability was excellent (>0.8) for length and height and good (0.6-0.8) for width measurements. There was also excellent agreement (>0.8) for the length and width of the menisci in the right and left knees. The heights of the horns of the lateral meniscus showed good agreement (0.6-0.8), while the heights of the other meniscal segments had excellent agreement between the sides (>0.8). There were significant associations with generally low (r < 0.5) correlation between the heights of the meniscal segments and the lengths and widths of the menisci, between the meniscal height and anthropometric data, and between the heights of the meniscal segments in the same meniscus. Correlations between anthropometric data and meniscal length and width were generally high (r > 0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was excellent agreement between the meniscal dimensions of the right and left knees, and a weak association between the meniscal height with the meniscal width and length, between the height of the menisci with anthropometric data and between the heights of the segments in the same meniscus. The height of the meniscal segments may be a new variable in preoperative meniscal measurement.
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua: Dr. Cesário Motta Júnior 112, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01221 020, Brazil. alfredonetto@bol.com.br.
authors.forename: Alfredo Dos Santos
authors.initials: ADS
authors.lastname: Netto
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua: Dr. Cesário Motta Júnior 112, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01221 020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Cohen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kaleka
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua: Dr. Cesário Motta Júnior 112, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01221 020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Kei
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua: Dr. Cesário Motta Júnior 112, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01221 020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julio Cesar de Almeida E
authors.initials: JCAE
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua: Dr. Cesário Motta Júnior 112, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01221 020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo de Paula Leite
authors.initials: RPL
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua: Dr. Cesário Motta Júnior 112, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01221 020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Maria de Moraes Barros
authors.initials: PMMB
authors.lastname: Fucs
authors.affiliation: Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Rua: Dr. Cesário Motta Júnior 112, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01221 020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilson Roberto
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Severino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D015588:Observer Variation; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accuracy; Dimensional measurement; Graft; Imaging; Inter-observer variation; Joint; Knee; MRI scans; Magnetic resonance; Medial; Meniscus; Meniscus lateral; Tibial menisci; Transplantation