Relationship of alignment in the lower extremity with early degeneration of articular cartilage after resection of the medial meniscus: Quantitative analysis using T(2) mapping

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cartilage degeneration early after partial medial meniscectomy and abnormal alignment in the lower extremity. The subjects were 34 patients (37 knees) with medial meniscal tear who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. MRI was performed before and 6 months after surgery. T(2) mapping images in sagittal sections of medial femoral condyle were produced and 10 regions of interest were set at intervals of 10° in the articular cartilage in the femur. Subjects with an increase in T(2) of ≥6% at a flexion angle of 30° were assigned to the degeneration group. Patient background, hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle, and total resection of meniscal segments were compared between this group and the other patients to identify factors involved in degeneration of articular cartilage. T(2) values 6 months after surgery in 3 ROIs at flexion angles of 30° to 50° were significantly longer than those before surgery. The preoperative HKA angle was significantly higher in the degeneration group. T(2) values in articular cartilage of the femoral condyle increased earlier after meniscectomy with abnormal alignment in the lower extremity. Meniscectomy in cases with abnormal alignment may have a risk of early onset of osteoarthritis. Level of evidence: Level IV