Objective: To measure anatomical data of anterior and posterior root attachments of the medial and lateral menisci for reconstruction of root tears.
Methods: Thirty cadaveric knee joints of human were chosen, including 16 males and 14 females, death age ranged from 35 to 68 years old with an average age of (55.6±7.8) years old. Structure of root attachments of the menisci was dissected and observed, then areas of the attachments and the distances from the centers of the attachments of each structure to specific landmarks were measured. These landmarks were medial tibial eminence apex, lateral tibial eminence apex, the anterior edge of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), lateral margin of cartilage of medial tibial plateau, medial margin of cartilage of lateral tibial plateau.
Results: The attachment of posterior root of medial meniscus: the central point was located on posterior about (11.73±3.10) mm and lateral about (2.77±0.86) mm to the medial tibial eminence apex; anterior about (2.76±0.76) mm to the anterior edge of PCL; lateral about (3.92±0.22) mm to lateral margin of cartilage of medial tibial plateau; the area of the attachment was (31.29±5.18) mm2 . The central point of attachment of anterior root of medial meniscus was located on anterior about (25.40±5.27) mm and lateral about (3.01±0.86) mm to the medial tibial eminence apex, and the attachment area was (46.18±11.60) mm2. The attachment of posterior root of lateral meniscus: the central point was located on posterior about (4.51 ±1.35) mm and medial about (1.85±0.34) mm to lateral tibial eminence apex; anterior about (6.91± 1.11) mm to the anterior edge of PCL; medial about (3.16±0.96) mm to medial margin of cartilage of lateral tibial plateau; and the area of attachment was (44.10±6.23) mm2. The central point of attachment of anterior root of lateral meniscus was located on anterior about (12.97±2.92) mm and lateral about (1.31 ±0.22) mm to the lateral tibial eminence apex, and the attachment area was (60.84±14.98) mm2.
Conclusion: The study quantitatively describes the area of the attachments of the anterior and posterior roots of the medial and lateral menisci as well as the relationship between central points and corresponding landmarks, which could provide some anatomical reference for clinical repair of roots injury of menisci.
Keywords: Anatomy; Knee injuries; Knee joint; Meniscus.