Bucket handle tear - medial meniscus

Case contributed by Bahman Rasuli
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Right knee pain and swelling following twisting injury.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female

Moderate joint effusion is seen.

Bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus with double PCL sign is present.

The chronic ACL tear is noted. 

The medial collateral ligament and PCL are intact.

The extensor mechanism is unremarkable.

Normal muscle bulk and signal intensity.

Normal bone marrow signal intensity. 

Case Discussion

Bucket handle meniscal tears are a type of displaced longitudinal meniscal tear where the inner part is displaced centrally. It more commonly occurs in the medial meniscus and is often associated with an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

In the recent case, the bucket handle tear is probably due to joint chronic instability from the ACL tear, which is presumably chronic given the lack of intercondylar edema and inflammation.

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