Tear of Meniscus - Classification of Meniscal Tear

Classification of Meniscal Tear

A Meniscus tear can be classified in various ways: by anatomic location, by proximity to blood supply, etc. Various tear patterns and configurations have been described. These include:

• Radial tears
• Flap or parrot-beak tears
• Peripheral, longitudinal tears
• Bucket-handle tears
• Horizontal cleavage tears
• Complex, degenerative tears

These tears can then further classified by their proximity to meniscus blood supply, namely whether they are located in the “red-red,” “red-white,” or “white-white” zones.

The functional importance of these classifications, however, is to ultimately determine whether a meniscus is repairable. The repairability of a meniscus is dependent upon a number of factors. These include:

• Age/strength
• Activity level
• Tear pattern
• Chronicity of the tear
• Associated injuries (anterior cruciate ligament injury)
• Healing Potential