Relationship of the meniscofemoral ligaments of the knee to lateral meniscus tears: magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.

This study sought to determine if the presence or absence of meniscofemoral ligaments exerts an influence on the prevalence of tears of the lateral meniscus. We reviewed the sagittal and coronal magnetic resonance images of 173 knees for lateral meniscus tears and the presence of the meniscofemoral ligaments. One or both meniscofemoral ligaments were present in 142 of 173 knees (82%). Fifty-four knees had lateral meniscus tears, 27 of which involved the posterior horn. Thirty-three percent of knees with meniscofemoral ligaments had a lateral meniscus tear, and 23% of knees without meniscofemoral ligaments had a lateral meniscus tear (no significant difference). We found no association between the presence of the meniscofemoral ligaments and tears of the lateral meniscus. Our study questions the importance of preserving or reconstructing these ligaments in instances of meniscal transplantation.