A Quantitative Evaluation of Morphological Parameters of Adult Lateral Discoid Meniscus Injury with Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background As a person ages and their knee joint activity increases, varying degrees of meniscal damage often occur. Effective surgical treatment can significantly alleviate discomfort and improve functional outcomes, making early, accurate diagnosis crucial. Recent years have seen a surge in studies examining the role of MRI in diagnosing lateral discoid meniscus injuries, with many concluding that MRI is highly effective for early and precise injury detection. However, inconsistencies in research findings persist, and there is a notable gap in studies focusing on the changes in relevant parameters among these patients. Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of MRI in the diagnosis of adult lateral discoid meniscus injury and quantify changes in associated parameters. Material and Methods MRI was performed on 80 participants, using a 1.5 Tesla GE Signa HDxt scanner with standard T1, PD fat-suppressed, and T2-weighted sequences. A hybrid diagnostic approach was employed, combining blinded dual-reader analysis, standardized anatomical landmark mapping, and semi-automated DICOM segmentation for morphometric assessment. Key parameters included free edge height, body width, capsular edge height, and derived ratios. Results Group A showed significantly higher wedge and fat angle signs (p < 0.001). Morphological comparisons revealed that Group A had higher free edge height, body width, and capsular edge height, along with a higher free edge height/body height ratio (p < 0.001). Conclusion MRI imaging proves to be efficacious in diagnosing lateral discoid meniscus injuries in adults, exhibiting notable differences in related parameters compared to individuals without injury.