Evaluation of Medial Meniscal Extrusion After Arthroscopic Medial Meniscal Root Repair Using Dynamic Ultrasound: A Prospective Observational Study

Background Currently, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for diagnosing meniscal root injuries, but its high cost and certain limitations make ultrasound a potential alternative. This study aimed to investigate the changes in meniscal extrusion using dynamic ultrasound and assess improvement in symptoms following arthroscopic medial meniscal root repair. Methods This prospective observational study involved 15 patients with medial meniscal root tears. Patient demographics (age, sex, height, weight) were collected at the initial assessment. The degree of medial meniscal extrusion (measured using dynamic sonography) and clinical data (symptom duration, Lysholm, and IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) functional scores) were recorded both before and 6 months after meniscal root repair. Results Postoperatively, medial meniscal extrusion decreased across all evaluated knee angles, with statistically significant reductions observed in all positions of posterior and 90° flexion position of anterior ultrasound imaging ( p < 0.05). While patients with higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and older age exhibited less improvement, these trends were not statistically significant ( p > 0.05). The duration of symptoms before surgery also showed no significant correlation with extrusion reduction. Conclusion This study highlights the value of ultrasonography as a tool for assessing postoperative meniscal root extrusion improvement.