Increased posterior slope of the medial and lateral meniscus posterior horn is associated with anterior cruciate ligament injuries

Abstract

PURPOSE : To measure the slope of the medial and lateral posterior horn of the meniscus and its contribution to the overall resulting posterior tibial slope (bone and meniscus combined slope) in anterior cruciate ligament–intact (ACLI) and –deficient (ACLD) knees. METHODS : Magnetic resonance images of intact menisci in patients 16 to 60 years old were included. Posterior tibial bone slope (PTS) and meniscus slope (MS) were measured 25%, 50%, and 75% from the medial and lateral borders of the tibial plateau. Analysis of variance was used to determine differences in posterior tibial slopes between ACLD and ACLI knees and between sexes for ACLD and ACLI knees. RESULTS : 192 ACLI patients (age 35.2 ± 9.6 years, mean ± standard deviation) and 159 ACLD patients (age 34.2 ± 10.3 years) were included. Medial and lateral PTS in ACLD was significantly ( P = .00001) higher at 25%, 50%, and 75%. Medial and lateral MS in ACLD was significantly ( P = .00001) lower at 25%, 50%, and 75%. There were no significant sex differences for medial or lateral MS in ACLD or ACLI patients ( P = .51). The resultant combined medial and lateral slope in ACLD patients was significantly ( P = .00001) lower at 25%, 50%, and 75%. There were no significant sex differences in PTS ( P = .68), MS ( P = .51), or resultant slope ( P = .79) CONCLUSIONS : The results of this study strongly suggest that lower meniscal slopes of both the medial and lateral posterior horns are associated with ACL injuries in both males and females. Although the posterior horns reversed the bone PTS to an anterior inclined slope in both ACLD and ACLI patients, both the meniscus slope and the combined resultant slope were significantly lower and more positive at all 6 measured locations in ACLD knees.