OCAD MSK

Meniscal root tears can be either an avulsion of the insertion of the meniscus attachment or radial tears which are within 1 cm of the meniscus insertion.
When meniscal root tears occur, they result in the failure of the meniscus to convert the axial loads into circumferential hoop stresses, and this leads to mechanical overload and degenerative changes in the knee. These changes are comparable to changes seen following a total meniscectomy.
Previously underdiagnosis at both MR imaging and arthroscopy. However, if attention is directed to the roots, the sensitivity and specificity for tear detection at MR imaging increase to 86%–90% and 94%–95%, respectively. Direct axial or reconstructed 3D isotropic FSE sequences and coronal fluid-sensitive MR imaging sequences images better shown the root tear pattern (usually a radial type tear). On sagittal MR images, if the posterior root of the MM is not detected just medial to the PCL, a root tear should be suspected (meniscal ghost sign). Also, when an ACL tear is present, there is an increased incidence of lateral root tears.
Acute root tears without significant underlying degenerative changes are often promptly repaired because the surrounding rich blood supply facilitates postoperative healing. The most common surgical approaches to treat meniscal root tears are transosseous root repair, suture anchor repair techniques and meniscectomy. Reference article.