The MRI findings of meniscal root tear of the medial meniscus: emphasis on coronal, sagittal and axial images

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of medial meniscal root tear in the coronal, sagittal and axial planes. Thirty arthroscopically diagnosed patients who had undergone preoperative knee MRI were included in this study. They were compared to 30 age-matched patients with medial meniscus tears without root tears. The findings used for imaging analysis were as follows: the radial tear on the meniscal root of the medial meniscus in the axial plane, the presence of the truncation sign in the coronal plane and the ghost meniscus sign in the sagittal plane. Meniscal extrusion in the coronal plane was also evaluated. All the MRI findings of both groups were statistically analyzed. All the findings were more frequently found in the root tear group than those in the control group (P