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Classification of Meniscal Tears

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The Menisci

Abstract

The classification systems of meniscal tears strengthen the importance of the anatomical and biomechanical particularities of meniscus tissue, regarding the pattern and configuration of a meniscal tear. Each system of classification approaches a particular aspect of the meniscal structure according to its morphology, proximity to the blood supply, anatomical site, and injury pattern. Meniscal traumatic lesions are characterized arthroscopically, as a lesion produced by a specific, well-known trauma on normal meniscal tissue, while degenerative meniscal tears are often related to a decompensation after minor trauma or even no known traumatic event. Moreover, in the degenerative condition, the meniscus substance exhibits macroscopic and microscopic alterations called myxoid degeneration. Classifying meniscal tears offers the knee surgeon the opportunity to identify and define an adequate treatment approach based on the literature for each specific meniscal tear. Moreover, it allows the surgeon to group meniscal tears, analyze their outcomes, and share their personal experience on different meniscal tears with other knee surgeons.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Exercise and Sports Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil

    Sergio Rocha Piedade

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  1. Sergio Rocha Piedade
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Correspondence to Sergio Rocha Piedade .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, Colorado, USA

    Robert F. LaPrade

  2. University of Minnesota Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Elizabeth A. Arendt

  3. University of Western Ontario Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, London, Ontario, Canada

    Alan Getgood

  4. The Orthopaedic Center, P.A., Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Scott C. Faucett

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© 2017 ISAKOS

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Piedade, S.R. (2017). Classification of Meniscal Tears. In: LaPrade, R., Arendt, E., Getgood, A., Faucett, S. (eds) The Menisci. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53792-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53792-3_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-53791-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-53792-3

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