MR-IMAGING OF MENISCAL ALLOGRAFTS - CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL AND ARTHROSCOPIC OUTCOMES

PURPOSE: To correlate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings after m eniscal transplantation with those at clinical, arthroscopic, and hist ologic examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients (29 me nisci) underwent MR imaging after meniscal transplantation. Nineteen p atients underwent arthroscopy, and the peripheral capsular attachment, degenerative areas, or both were sampled for biopsy. MR findings were correlated with those at clinical, arthroscopic, and histologic exami nation. RESULTS: MR imaging enabled accurate assessment of allograft a ttachments. Fragmentation and frank extrusion were associated with ful l-thickness chondral loss. Allograft degeneration, indicated by an inc rease in signal intensity, was seen with moderate and severe chondral wear. Clinical results were worse with meniscal extrusion, with compla ints of locking. Patients with mild fragmentation reported pain withou t locking. Histologic examination of excised allografts revealed myxom atous degeneration without immunologic reaction. CONCLUSION: MR imagin g can help assess allograft placement and articular cartilage and enab le differentiation of fragmentation from extrusion. Preoperative asses sment of articular cartilage is important to identify patients who may be at risk for failure.