RSNA 2005 

Abstract Archives of the RSNA, 2005


SST16-01

Distribution of Meniscal Tears at MRI in Elite Football Players

Scientific Papers

Presented on December 2, 2005
Presented as part of SST16: Musculoskeletal (Knee: Internal Derangement)

Participants

Jeffrey Dalton Towers MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose
Derek R. Armfield MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Kenneth Alan Buckwalter MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
James P Bradley MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
John Norwig MED, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

PURPOSE

Meniscal injuries are common in competitive athletes and are routinely evaluated by MRI. Most authors have reported a predominance of medial meniscal injuries. We report the distribution of medial and lateral meniscal tears in elite football players.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

All candidates for the 2005 professional football draft were screened by injury summaries from their football program, onsite history and physical exam, and when indicated with plain radiographs and MRI. All knee MRI examinations were reviewed for the presence of meniscal tears using standard criteria by MRI, most commonly linear signal on more than one image contacting an articular surface. Minor free edge abnormalities and internal meniscal signal were excluded. Medial and lateral location of meniscal tears and the position of players were recorded.

RESULTS

40 meniscal tears were found meeting MRI criteria. 28 were lateral and 12 were medial. Of these, 10 lateral and 4 medial meniscal tears were found in the setting of ACL tears. 2 candidates had both medial and lateral meniscal tears in the setting of ACL tear. 18 lateral and 8 medial tears were isolated injuries. Linemen and defensive secondary players had the highest number of lateral meniscal tears.

CONCLUSION

In elite football players, lateral meniscal tears were more frequently found both in association with ACL tears and as isolated injuries.

Cite This Abstract

Towers, J, Armfield, D, Buckwalter, K, Bradley, J, Norwig, J, Distribution of Meniscal Tears at MRI in Elite Football Players.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4419651.html