Meniscal Root Tears: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes.

Authors

Magnolia Livingston, Phara Ross, Shreya M Saraf, Mitchell Christiansen, John R Miller, Mary K Mulcahey

Published in

The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume. Oct 05, 2026. Epub Oct 05, 2026.

Abstract

➢ Meniscal root tears compromise load distribution within the knee, accelerating cartilage degeneration and leading to knee osteoarthritis.➢ Diagnosis relies on clinical suspicion supported by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with arthroscopy serving as the gold standard for confirmation.➢ Management decisions should be tailored to patient-specific factors, including age, activity level, tear characteristics, and the severity of degenerative chondral wear evident on preoperative imaging, including weight-bearing radiographs and MRI.➢ Root repair is associated with better long-term outcomes compared with partial meniscectomy and nonoperative management in appropriately selected patients.➢ There is currently no universally accepted postoperative rehabilitation protocol following meniscal root repair; however, most strategies limit weight-bearing in the early postoperative period and restrict loaded flexion, such as deep squatting, for up to 4 to 5 months. Further research is needed to guide standardized recovery pathways.

PMID:
42832596
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 06 Oct 2026.

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