The Relationship Between the Presence and Severityof

Meniscopathy Detected by Magnetic Resonans Imaging and

Obesity

Poster No.: C-0705

Congress: ECR 2013
Type: Scientific Exhibit
Authors: 1 2 2 1 1
M. F. Inci , F. Özkan , B. Bakan , O. Bilal ; Kahramanmara#,
2
46200/TR, Kahramanmara#/TR
Keywords: Inflammation, Diagnostic procedure, MR-Angiography, MR,
Musculoskeletal joint
DOI: 10.1594/ecr2013/C-0705

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Purpose

Knee meniscal injuries are common with the prevalence of degenerative meniscal
changes in reported asymptomatic individuals ranging between 11.1% and 31.5% (1). In
autopsy studies the prevalence of horizontal cleavage lesions of the menisci has been
reported between 18.6% and 60% (2,3). While common injuries, little epidemiologic data
have been reported.

Meniscal tears are commonly associated with athletic injuries.6,7 Athletes with greater
mean heights and weights are noted to have significantly greater incidence of knee joint
injuries (4). Height and weight have also been correlated with degenerative meniscal
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.9 Degenerative meniscal changes are
thought to predispose the meniscus to the development of symptomatic meniscal tears
(5).

Obesity is thought to increase subchondral bony stiffness, transmitting more force to

overlying cartilage, possibly suggesting an injury mechanism involving obesity (6,7).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the presence and severity
of meniscopathy detected by Magnetic Resonans Imaging (MRI) and obesity.

Methods and Materials

48 patients who underwent knee MRI for various reasons and meniscopathy was
detected and 42 control patients included to this study. All patients age were ranged
45-65. Patients who had a trauma and/or underwent surgery on knee were excluded to
study. Patient body mass index (BMI) was calculated as kg/m².

Results

Of the 48 meniscopathy patients 23 (%47.9) were male and 25 (%52.1) were female,
the mean age was 54±7.2 years. Of the 42 control patients 20 (%47.6) were male and
22 (%52.4) were female, the mean age was 52±6.8 years. There was no statistically
significant relationship between patient and control group cases in terms of age and
gender (p>0.05). The mean BMI was 24.5±1.9 in control group and 28,3±2.2 in patient
group which is statistically significant (p<0.05). There is also a positive correlation was
present between BMI and mensicopathy. Of the 48 meniscopathy patients, 17 patients
(35.4%) had only medial meniscopathy, 9 patients (18.7%) had only lateral meniscopathy
and 22 patients (45.9%) had bilateral meniscopathy. Although meniscopathy tends to

Page 2 of 7
be bilaterally, there was a statistically significant difference between medial and lateral
meniscopathy in obese patients (p<0.05).

Images for this section:

Fig. 1

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Fig. 2

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Fig. 3

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Conclusion

Significant associations were demonstrated between increasing BMI and meniscal

degeneration. Although meniscopathy tends to be bilaterally, medial meniscuses are
more affected in obese patients. Identification of possible risk factors for obesity and
informing patients about them are important for prevention of meniscopathy.

References

1. Jerosch J, Castro WHM, Assheuer J. Age-related magnetic resonance imaging

morphology of the menisci in asymptomatic individuals. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg
1996;115:199 -202.

2. Kornick J, Trefelner E, McCarthy S, Lange R, Lynch K, Jokl P. Meniscal abnormalities

in the asymptomatic population at MR imaging. Radiology 1990;177:463-5.

3. LaPrade RF, Burnett QM, Veenstra MA, Hodgman CG. The prevalence of abnormal
magnetic resonance imaging findings in asymptomatic knees. Am J Sports Med
1994;22:739-45.

4. Noble J. Lesions of the menisci: autopsy incidence in adults younger than fifty-five
years old. J Bone Joint Surg 1977;59A:480-3.

5. Noble J, Hamblen DL. The pathology of the degenerate meniscus lesion. J Bone Joint
Surg 1975;57B:180-6.

6. Chen E, Maffulli N, Chan KM. Knee injuries produced by recreational sports follows a
different pattern than casual injuries. Bull Hosp Jt Dis 1998;57:74 -9.

7. Strickland JW. Philosophy of the treatment of athletes. Clin Sports Med 1995;14:285- 8.

Personal Information

Mehmet Fatih #NC#, MD, Kahramanmara# Sütçü #mam University, School of Medicine,
Department of Radiology, Kahramanmara# / TURKEY

Fuat ÖZKAN, MD, Kahramanmara# Sütçü #mam University, School of Medicine,

Department of Radiology, Kahramanmara# / TURKEY

Page 6 of 7
Betül BAKAN, MD, Kahramanmara# Sütçü #mam University, School of Medicine,
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Kahramanmara# / TURKEY

Ökke# B#LAL, MD, Kahramanmara# Sütçü #mam University, School of Medicine,

Department of Orthopedic and Traumatology, Kahramanmara# / TURKEY

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