Reason: Is there a lateral meniscus tear, articular cartilage injury or occult fracture? History: pain and tenderness lateral joint line after axial loading injury MENISCI: There is a large complex tear of the lateral meniscus at the junction of the anterior horn and body which includes a large radial component. Although the tear appears to extend through the entire thickness of the meniscus, some of the peripheral fibers remain intact with propagation of the radial component beneath them. There is a 1 cm bandlike focus of intermediate signal intensity, just lateral to the ACL, which we suspect represents a displaced fragment of meniscal tissue. The posterior horn appears intact. The medial meniscus appears intact.ARTICULAR CARTILAGE AND BONE: Note is made of increased bone marrow signal abnormality within the posterior aspect of the lateral tibial plateau likely representing a bone contusion. There is no definite linear signal abnormality to confirm a subchondral fracture. We see no full-thickness or near full-thickness articular cartilage defect.LIGAMENTS: The cruciate and collateral ligaments appear intact. EXTENSOR MECHANISM: The extensor mechanism appears intact. There is a 12 mm ossicle within the distal patellar tendon which appears slightly edematous on the fluid sensitive sequences, but the clinical significance of this is uncertain.ADDITIONAL
Complex predominantly radial tear of the lateral meniscus as described above.