Download PDF
J Knee Surg
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779512
Original Article

Association of Posterior Horn Meniscus Tears with Obesity: A Retrospective Study

Ryan L. Siller
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
,
Hamza Raja 
2   John Sealy School of Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
,
Robert W. Lindeman 
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
› Author Affiliations Funding This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
› Further Information
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Our study aims to determine the association between obesity and meniscal tears involving the posterior third of the medial meniscus and meniscal root tears. We conducted a 3-year retrospective review of isolated operatively treated meniscal injuries in adult patients performed by a single surgeon. Cases with concomitant pathology were excluded. Patient demographics, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded and compared against location of meniscus tear noted via magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic imaging. Eighty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 65.2% were obese (BMI > 30) and 10.1% were morbidly obese (BMI > 40). Average BMI across all patients was 32.6 ± 6.7. Forty-four patients had a tear involving the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, including 20 involving the meniscal root. The average BMI of patients with tears involving the meniscal root was 35.7 ± 6. There was a statistically significant association between type of meniscus tear and BMI as well as height. Obese patients were more likely to have a posterior horn of the medial meniscus tear (odds ratio [OR]: 1.59) and meniscal root tear (OR: 124.67), as were morbidly obese patients (OR: 2.21 and 5.41, respectively). Elevated BMI is associated with posterior horn of the medial meniscus tear. Obesity and morbid obesity are strongly associated with meniscal root tears and tears included in the posterior third of the medial meniscus.

Keywords

meniscal root tears - meniscus - morbid obesity - obesity - posterior horn medial meniscus

Competing of Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article.




Publication History

Received: 07 June 2023

Accepted: 07 January 2024

Article published online:
31 January 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • References

  • 1 Greis PE, Bardana DD, Holmstrom MC, Burks RT. Meniscal injury: I. Basic science and evaluation. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2002; 10 (03) 168-176
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Allaire R, Muriuki M, Gilbertson L, Harner CD. Biomechanical consequences of a tear of the posterior root of the medial meniscus. Similar to total meniscectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2008; 90 (09) 1922-1931
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Baratz ME, Fu FH, Mengato R. Meniscal tears: the effect of meniscectomy and of repair on intraarticular contact areas and stress in the human knee. A preliminary report. Am J Sports Med 1986; 14 (04) 270-275
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Kodama Y, Furumatsu T, Fujii M, Tanaka T, Miyazawa S, Ozaki T. Pullout repair of a medial meniscus posterior root tear using a FasT-Fix® all-inside suture technique. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2016; 102 (07) 951-954
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Okazaki Y, Furumatsu T, Kodama Y. et al. Transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tear restores physiological rotation of the tibia in the knee-flexed position. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 2019; 105 (01) 113-117
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Ozkoc G, Circi E, Gonc U, Irgit K, Pourbagher A, Tandogan RN. Radial tears in the root of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2008; 16 (09) 849-854
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Choi CJ, Choi YJ, Song IB, Choi CH. Characteristics of radial tears in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus compared to horizontal tears. Clin Orthop Surg 2011; 3 (02) 128-132
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Ford GM, Hegmann KT, White Jr GL, Holmes EB. Associations of body mass index with meniscal tears. Am J Prev Med 2005; 28 (04) 364-368
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Erdil M, Bilsel K, Sungur M. et al. Does obesity negatively affect the functional results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy? A retrospective cohort study. Arthroscopy 2013; 29 (02) 232-237
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Brophy RH, Wojahn RD, Lillegraven O, Lamplot JD. Outcomes of arthroscopic posterior medial meniscus root repair: association with body mass index. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2019; 27 (03) 104-111
    Google Scholar
  • 11 Pache S, Aman ZS, Kennedy M. et al. Meniscal root tears: current concepts review. Arch Bone Jt Surg 2018; 6 (04) 250-259
    Google Scholar
  • 12 LaPrade RF, Padalecki JR, Jansson K. et al. Biomechanical consequences of a complete radial tear adjacent to the medial meniscus posterior root attachment site. Orthop J Sports Med 2014; 2 (1 Suppl): 2325967114S00004
    Google Scholar
  • 13 Harding GT, Hubley-Kozey CL, Dunbar MJ, Stanish WD, Astephen Wilson JL. Body mass index affects knee joint mechanics during gait differently with and without moderate knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2012; 20 (11) 1234-1242
    Google Scholar
  • 14 Barras LA, Pareek A, Parkes CW. et al. Post-arthroscopic subchondral insufficiency fractures of the knee yield high rate of conversion to arthroplasty. Arthroscopy 2021; 37 (08) 2545-2553
    Google Scholar
  • 15 Krych AJ, Bernard CD, Kennedy NI. et al. Medial versus lateral meniscus root tears: is there a difference in injury presentation, treatment decisions, and surgical repair outcomes?. Arthroscopy 2020; 36 (04) 1135-1141
    Google Scholar
  • 16 Harrison MM, Morrell J, Hopman WM. Influence of obesity on outcome after knee arthroscopy. Arthroscopy 2004; 20 (07) 691-695
    Google Scholar