Preoperative MRI and Radiographic Parameters in Medial Meniscus Root Tears and Repair Outcomes

NCT07089316 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 24237859467
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 128
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This retrospective observational study aims to investigate whether specific preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiographic parameters are associated with medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT), and whether these parameters have predictive value for mid-term clinical and radiographic outcomes after arthroscopic repair. Patients with arthroscopically confirmed MMPRT treated between 2020 and 2024 are evaluated based on their preoperative MRI and standing knee radiographs. Imaging parameters of interest include medial tibial slope, meniscal extrusion, tibial plateau depth, posterior root angle, and intercondylar notch morphology. Clinical outcomes are assessed using standardized scoring systems. The study aims to identify imaging-based anatomical risk factors to improve diagnosis, patient selection, and prognosis following MMPRT repair.

Conditions

Tibial Meniscus Tears

Keywords

Menisci, Tibial; Arthroscopy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (15)

• Medial Tibial Slope

  Measured in degrees (°) on sagittal MRI. It is the angle between the tangent to the medial tibial plateau and the anatomical axis of the proximal tibia, drawn using a line connecting the anterior and posterior cortices of the plateau.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Medial Meniscus Extrusion

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on coronal MRI. Defined as the distance from the outer margin of the medial meniscus to the edge of the tibial plateau

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Tibial Plateau Depth

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on sagittal MRI. It is the perpendicular depth from the deepest point of the medial tibial plateau concavity to a reference line connecting the anterior and posterior cortical rims.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Intercondylar Notch Width

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on axial MRI images. Width of the intercondylar notch at the level of the popliteal groove.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Intercondylar Distance

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on axial MRI. The distance between the outer surfaces of the medial and lateral femoral condyles at the level of the intercondylar notch.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Medial Femoral Condyle Angle

  Measured in degrees (°) on sagittal MRI. It is the angle between the femoral anatomical axis and the curvature of the medial femoral condyle.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Notch Width Index (ICNW/ICD Ratio)

  A unitless ratio obtained by dividing the intercondylar notch width by the intercondylar distance on axial MRI at the level of the popliteal groove.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Notch Shape

  Morphological classification based on axial MRI. The intercondylar notch is categorized into A-type, U-type, or W-type based on its geometric configuration.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Presence of Osteophyte (Spur)

  Binary variable (Yes/No) indicating the presence of an osteophyte at the intercondylar notch on axial or sagittal MRI.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Medial Femoral Condyle Width (MFCW)

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on coronal MRI. The width of the medial tibial plateau at its maximum span.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Medial Tibial Plateau Width (MTPW)

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on coronal MRI. The width of the medial tibial plateau at its maximum span.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• MFCW/MTPW Ratio

  Unitless ratio calculated by dividing medial femoral condyle width (MFCW) by medial tibial plateau width (MTPW) on coronal MRI.

  Preoperative MRI assessment

• Medial Femoral Condyle Distal Offset Distance

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on sagittal MRI at the level of the medial femoral condyle midpoint (defined on coronal MRI) as the perpendicular distance from the intercondylar axis to the most distal point of the condyle.

  Preoperative MRI

• Medial Femoral Condyle Posterior Offset Distance

  Measured in millimeters (mm) on the same sagittal MRI slice as the distal offset, defined as the distance from the intercondylar axis to the most posterior point of the condyle.

  Preoperative MRI

• MFC Distal / Posterior Offset Ratio

  A unitless ratio calculated by dividing the medial femoral condyle distal offset distance by its posterior offset distance on sagittal MRI.

  Preoperative MRI

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score

  Preoperative and minimum 24-month postoperative follow-up

• Lysholm Knee Score

  Preoperative and minimum 24-month postoperative follow-up

• Tegner Activity Scale

  Preoperative and minimum 24-month postoperative follow-up

• Kellgren-Lawrence Grade Progression

  Preoperative and minimum 24-month postoperative radiographs

• Medial Joint Space Width (JSW)

  Preoperative and minimum 24-month postoperative radiographs

Study Arms (2)

MMPRT Patients

Patients with medial meniscus posterior root tears undergoing arthroscopic repair.

Control Patients

Patients without meniscus tears, matched by age, BMI, and mechanical axis.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population includes adult patients diagnosed with medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) who underwent arthroscopic repair at Karadeniz Technical University Farabi Hospital between 2020 and 2024, as well as control patients without meniscus tears who had knee MRI and standing radiographs available in the same period. Controls were matched to the MMPRT group based on age, BMI, and mechanical axis distribution to minimize confounding.

You may qualify if:

• Patients aged 18 years or older
• Arthroscopically confirmed medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) diagnosis
• Availability of preoperative knee MRI and standing long-leg radiographs
• Minimum 24-month clinical and radiographic follow-up

You may not qualify if:

• Lateral meniscus tear
• Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 or higher knee osteoarthritis
• Advanced ligament injuries
• History of previous knee surgery, osteotomy, or arthroplasty
• Poor imaging quality
• Mechanical axis deformities (varus or valgus alignment)
• Follow-up period less than 24 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karadeniz Technical University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Karadeniz Technical University, Orthopedic and Traumatology Department

Trabzon, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tibial Meniscus Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leg Injuries; Wounds and Injuries

Study Officials

• Fevzi Gurkan Aslan, M.D.

  Karadeniz Technical University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Orthopaedic Surgery Resident, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2025
• First Posted: July 28, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 15, 2026
• Last Updated: March 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)