Medial meniscus: The posterior horn is always larger than the anterior horn.
LEFT: normal medial meniscal root immediately anterior to the posterior cruciate ligament. RIGHT: missing posterior root due to meniscal root tear.
On sagittal images the posterior horn is higher in position than the anterior horn. Both horns are about the same size.
Lateral meniscus: posterior horn and posterior meniscal root. upward position of the posterior horn may be the reason for the higher signal intensity of the posterior horn in all planes due to magic angle effect.
Criteria for tears The two most important criteria for meniscal tears are an abnormal shape of the meniscus and high signal intensity unequivocally contacting the surface on PD images.
High signal intensity not unequivocally contacting surface. Small black line on inferior margin of the meniscus. At arthroscopy the meniscus was normal .
It is a misunderstanding that menisci should be homogeneously low in signal intensity on proton-density images. The meniscus does not have to be black .
Shapes . There are 3 basic shapes of meniscal tears: longitudinal, horizontal and radial. Complex tears are a combination of these basic shapes.
Longitudinal tears Longitudinal tears parallel the long axis of the meniscus dividing the meniscus into an inner and outer part. Therefore, the distance between the tear and the outer margin of the meniscus is always the same (figure). The tear never touches the inner margin .
Longitudinal tears follow the collagen bundles that parallel the contour of the meniscus. If a longitudinal tear has other components (horizontal or radial), then it is a complex tear violating the collagen bundles. This requires a higher energy trauma.
Bucket handle tear is a displaced longitudinal tear.
Bucket handle tear is a displaced longitudinal tear. LEFT: abnormal shape of posterior horn. A piece is missing. RIGHT: displaced fragment in the intercondylar fossa.
On coronal images bucket handle tears are easier to recognize. Normally there are only two structures in the intercondylar fossa : the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament. Any other structure in the intercondylar fossa is abnormal and a displaced meniscal fragment is the most likely possibility. LEFT: meniscus is abnormal in shape and there is a displaced fragment. RIGHT: Three structures in the intercondylar fossa: post cruciate lig (1), ant cruciate lig (2) and displaced fragment (3).
Flipped meniscus is a form of bucket handle tear. There is a capsular detachment or peripheral tear of the meniscus, usually the posterior horn. The posterior horn flips over onto the anterior horn Flipped meniscus: posterior horn is missing because it is flipped over and located on top of the anterior horn.