Conclusions
Mean medial meniscal body extrusion in middle-aged or older persons without radiographic tibiofemoral OA approximates the commonly used cutoff (3 mm) to denote pathological extrusion. Medial meniscal damage is a factor associated with medial meniscal body extrusion and less cartilage coverage. Key points: • Medial meniscal extrusion in middle-aged/older persons without OA is around 3 mm. • Lateral meniscal extrusion in middle-aged/older persons without OA is around 2 mm. • Meniscal damage is associated with medial meniscal extrusion and less cartilage coverage.
Methods
Seven hundred eighteen persons, free of radiographic tibiofemoral OA, aged 50-90 years from Framingham, MA, USA, were included. We measured meniscal extrusion on 1.5 T MRI of both knees to evaluate both medial and lateral meniscal body extrusion and cartilage coverage. We also determined meniscal morphology and structural integrity. The multivariable association with age, body mass index (BMI), and ipsilateral meniscal damage was also evaluated.
Results
The mean meniscal body extrusion medially was 2.7 mm and laterally 1.8 mm. The tibial cartilage coverage was about 30% of ipsilateral cartilage surface (both compartments). The presence of ipsilateral meniscal damage was associated with more extrusion in only the medial compartment, 1.0 mm in men and 0.6 mm in women, and less cartilage coverage proportion, -5.5% in men and -4.6% in women. Conclusions: Mean medial meniscal body extrusion in middle-aged or older persons without radiographic tibiofemoral OA approximates the commonly used cutoff (3 mm) to denote pathological extrusion. Medial meniscal damage is a factor associated with medial meniscal body extrusion and less cartilage coverage. Key points: • Medial meniscal extrusion in middle-aged/older persons without OA is around 3 mm. • Lateral meniscal extrusion in middle-aged/older persons without OA is around 2 mm. • Meniscal damage is associated with medial meniscal extrusion and less cartilage coverage.