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Background: Knowing the configuration of a meniscus tear is important for planning the treatment protocol. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining meniscus tear configurations through a retrospective assessment of MR images from patients who underwent arthroscopy for an initial diagnosis of meniscus tear. Patients and Methods: A retrospective comparison was made between MRI findings and arthroscopic results of patients to whom arthroscopy was applied by a single experienced surgeon for an initial diagnosis of meniscus tear. The MR images were taken with a 1.5 Tesla unit. The meniscus tears were classified in subgroups as horizontal, longitudinal, radial, flap, bucket handle, and complex. Results: In 60 knees of 57 patients, 32 lateral meniscus and 48 medial meniscus lesions were identified by MRI. Of these tears, 33 were complex, 15 longitudinal, 13 radial, 11 bucket handle, 5 flap, and 3 horizontal. For the total 80 meniscus tears, MRI gave the same diagnosis as arthroscopy in 60 (75%). Longitudinal and flap tears had low sensitivity (79% inmedial and 50% in lateral meniscus for longitudinal tears; 33% to 57%, respectively, for flap tears) but high specificity. Conclusion: MRI is an important tool in the imaging of meniscus tears, but for longitudinal and flap tear configurations that re- quire arthroscopy, MRI diagnostics are especially insensitive. Nonetheless, MRI evaluation paired with good clinical evaluation can be considered useful when planning a surgical protocol and when defining the postoperative prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In tibial fractures, the use of an external fixator (EF) may be associated with sexual dysfunction (SD) in sexually active male patients. We aimed to investigate the influence of EF applied for tibial fracture on the sexual life in male patients., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 137 male patients who presented with tibial fractures and underwent surgical intervention with unilateral or circular EF. The patients completed the Brief Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI) form during the interview. We evaluated the incidence of the development of SD and the severity of SD with the use of an EF, and the relation with the type of EF and SD was investigated. The responses were compared with the results of the completed BSFI forms of 119 male patients who were treated with internal fixation (IF) for tibial fractures., Results: In total, 108 patients (mean age, 42.8 years) treated with EF accepted the invitation and filled the form. The score of those patients were worse compared with that of the patients who were treated with IF (p<0.001). Postoperative sexual functions were the same with the preoperative sexual function in 12 patients (11%). However, the postoperative scores were decreased in 96 (89%) patients, which meant that the sexual functioning was impaired. None of the patients reported persistent SD., Conclusion: EF in the cruris may impair sexual functions in males. The rate of SD was higher in male patients who were treated with EF. Thus, SD might be associated with physical, psychological, and social limitations caused by EF.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the knee joint line level by its distance to the adductor tubercle and the apex of the fibular head in the Turkish population., Methods: The study included 117 knees of 108 patients (63 males, 45 females; mean age: 31.3 years, range: 16 to 82 years). Femoral width and the distance from the apex of the fibular head to the joint line as well as the distance from the adductor tubercle to the joint line were measured on anteroposterior radiographs., Results: Mean femoral width was 87.2 mm. The average distance from the adductor tubercle to the joint line was 47.9 mm and from the fibular head to the joint line was 20.5 mm. A linear correlation was found between the distance from the adductor tubercle to the joint line and femoral width, with a ratio of 0.55. There was no significant correlation between the distance from the fibular head to the joint line and femoral width., Conclusion: There was a linear correlation between the femoral width and the adductor tubercle-joint line distance irrespective of any factors such as age, gender and height. Therefore, the adductor tubercle can be used as a reliable landmark to determine the joint line level for easy evaluation and measurement during surgery.