Bucket-handle meniscal tear

Last revised by Mina Sameh Rizk on 8 Jun 2023

Bucket-handle meniscal tears are a type of displaced vertical meniscal tear where the inner part is displaced centrally. They more commonly occur in the medial meniscus and are often associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

Radiographic features

MRI

Bucket-hand tears can manifest as sensitive but not specific signs 1:

  • absent bow tie sign - on sagittal view

  • double PCL sign (bucket-handle tears of the medial meniscus) - on sagittal view

  • double ACL sign (bucket-hand tears of the lateral meniscus) - on sagittal view

  • double anterior horn / flipped meniscus - on sagittal view

  • double delta sign- on sagittal view

  • disproportionately small posterior horn - on sagittal view

  • meniscal fragment in the intercondylar notch - on coronal view

  • truncation and small size of the body of the meniscus on coronal images - on coronal view

See also

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