J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2007 Dec;42(6):743-749. 10.4055/jkoa.2007.42.6.743.

Comparison of the Pollard Method and the MRI Dimensions for Meniscal Sizing in Koreans

• Choi CH
• Lee JG
• Song WS

• KMID: 1947780
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2007.42.6.743

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the Pollard method for meniscal sizing of the meniscal allograft by comparison with the MRI dimensions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The width and length of 50 medial and lateral menisci were measured and compared using the Pollard method and MRI. The meniscal thickness was measured using MRI and we evaluated the individual differences.
RESULTS
The measurements of the width of the medial meniscus and the length of the lateral meniscus using the Pollard method and MRI were similar (p=0.459, p=0.108, respectively). However, the measurements of the length of the medial meniscus and the width of the lateral meniscus using MRI were significantly higher that those measured using the Pollard method (p=0.000 and p=0.001, respectively). The medial and lateral meniscal thicknesses were 6.26+/-0.86 mm and 6.47+/-0.84 mm, respectively, and there was no significant individual difference.
CONCLUSION
The measurements of the length of the medial meniscus and the width of the lateral meniscus, using the Pollard method and on MRI had significant differences. The Pollard method must be modified for meniscal sizing.

Keyword

Meniscus; Sizing; Pollard method; MRI

MeSH Terms

Allografts
Individuality
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Menisci, Tibial

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The Pollard method. (A) An anteroposterial radiograph of the knee. The medial meniscal width is measured from the peak of the medial tibial eminence to the medial tibial metaphyseal margin(black arrow) and the lateral meniscal width is measured from the peak of the lateral tibial eminence to the periphery of the lateral tibial metaphysic(white arrow). (B) An lateral radiograph of the knee. The medial meniscal length is 80% of the sagittal tibial plateau distance (white arrow) measured at the joint line between a line parallel to the anterior tibia above the tuberosity and one tangent to the posterior plateau margin perpendicular to the joint line. The lateral meniscal length is 70% of the sagittal tibial plateau distance.

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  Fig. 2 MRI meniscal dimensions. (A) The medial meniscal width is measured from the widest medial meniscal width of the MRI coronal view. (B) The medial meniscal length is measured from the longest medial meniscal length of the MRI sagittal view. (C) The lateral meniscal width is measured from the widest lateral meniscal width of the MRI coronal view. (D) The lateral meniscal length is measured from the longest lateral meniscal length of the MRI sagittal view. (E) The meniscal height is measured from the highest height of the MRI sagittal view.

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  Fig. 3 The graph of simple linear regression analysis between the tibia plateau sagittal length and the medial meniscal length.

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  Fig. 4 An anteroposterial radiograph of the knee. The periphery of the lateral tibial metaphysis is round shaped, so there is a significant difference between the lateral epiphyseal margin and the lateral metaphyseal margin.

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