Abstract
PURPOSE: Untreated meniscus injuries accompanied with fractures of lateral tibial condyle
may cause prolonged pain and post-traumatic arthritis. Lateral displacement of fractured
fragment of lateral tibial condyle was found to be related to the incidence of lateral meniscus
tear. We established the risk groups for lateral meniscus injuries on the basis of the degree of
the lateral displacement of lateral tibial condyle.
MATERIALS and METHODS: Risk groups for lateral meniscus injury in fractures of lateral tibial
condyle were evaluated in 39 knees, retrospectively, using plain roentgenograms and
arthroscopic findings. On the knee anteroposterior radiography, displacement of lateral tibia
condyle were classified into three groups according to the probability of lateral meniscus
INJURY: high risk group for above 8mm of lateral displacement; moderate risk group for 4-
8mm; low risk group for less than 4mm.
RESULTS: High risk group has ten meniscus injuries among 13 knees(76.9%) and moderate
risk group had the seven meniscus injuries of 18 knees(38.9%). Low risk group of eight knees
had no meniscus injury(0%). These different incidences among groups were statistically
significant(p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The authors suggest that the incidence of lateral meniscus injury was related to
the degree of lateral displacement of lateral tibial condyle, and our definition of risk groups
are useful for prediction of lateral meniscus injury in fracture of lateral tibial condyle.