Measuring Technique for Meniscal Extrusion Using Ultrasound in the Setting of Posterior Medial Meniscal Root Tears.

Farivar, Daniel; Pascual, Tomás A; Hevesi, Mario; Chahla, Jorge · Arthrosc Tech · 2024

expert_opinion · Level V

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Abstract

Meniscal extrusion (ME) is a valuable, noninvasive diagnostic tool for meniscus pathology. In addition, ultrasound can allow for instant results in the office. However, ME is a fragile metric in the degree of millimeters. The inconsistent techniques used by different authors in the literature and the additional operator variability that ultrasound technology introduces make it important a systematic approach is used. The purpose of this study is to propose a reproducible technique. The current authors recommend having the patient in (1) 30° of knee flexion while weight-bearing, (2) capturing the image at the posterior border of the medial collateral ligament, (3) using a reference line parallel to the articular margin of the tibia, and (4) measuring ME at the coronal midpoint of the outermost edge of the meniscus.