[Clinical aspects of the detection of early arthrosis. Degenerative changes of the menisci of the knee joint].

In a series of 420 persons the knee and hip joints were examined anamnestically and clinically. From this series, 146 persons were selected for further examination of one knee joint by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a 1.5 Tesla Magnetom; there was a wide range of indications. Only four MRIs showed no pathological findings in the cruciate ligaments, cartilage surfaces, or menisci. Fifty-one menisci showed grade 3 degenerative changes. In 29 cases (57%), isolated horizontal tears were found, in 1 case (2%) an isolated vertical tear, and in 3 cases (6%) combined horizontal and vertical tears. The correlation of the degenerative changes in the medial meniscus and age was significant (P = 0.01). There was no correlation between the degenerative changes of the medial meniscus and femoral or tibial changes of the cartilage. In this series, there was no significant connection between degenerative changes of the medial meniscus and the previously accepted clinical symptomatology.