Slope of the Medial Tibial Plateau and the Incidence of a Medial Meniscal Tear

Objectives: Previous studies of the association between tibial slope and meniscal tear have led to contradictory results. In this regard, the present study aimed to examine the effect of medial tibial plateau slope on the incidence of isolated medial meniscal tear.Methods: This study was performed on ۷۵ patients with a posterior horn medial meniscal tear and ۱۵۰ matched control subjects. Two different observers evaluated the slope of the medial tibial plateau on the lateral radiographs. Reliability of radiographic evaluation was investigated in a pilot study using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) test.Results: Intra-observer reliability for the slope of the medial tibial plateau was high, with ICC values of ۰.۹۶۱ and ۰.۹۵۷ for the first and second observers, respectively. The interobserver reliability was ۰.۹۴۷. The mean slope was ۱۰.۲±۳.۷° in the case group and ۱۰.۱±۴.۴° in the control group (P=۰.۹۷). Moreover, the mean slopes of the medial tibial plateau were ۱۰.۳±۴.۱º and ۱۰.۱±۴.۲º in participants with tibial bone varus angles of (TBVA) < ۴º and ≥ ۴.۲ (P=۰.۷۷). The slope was not statistically correlated with age (r=۰.۰۷۴, ۹۵% CI: -۰.۰۵−۰.۲۰, P=۰.۲۶), gender (r=۰.۰۷, P=۰.۲۹), BMI (r=۰.۰۲, ۹۵% CI: -۰.۱۰−۰.۱۵, P=۰.۷۴), level of joint degeneration (r=-۰.۰۲۳, ۹۵% CI: -۰.۱۱−۰.۱۵, P=۰.۷۳), and TBVA (r=-۰.۰۱۰, ۹۵% CI: -۰.۱۴−۰.۱۲; P=۰.۱۲).Conclusion: No significant difference was found between patients with and without an isolated meniscal tear in terms of the medial tibial plateau slope. These results suggest that the tibial slope may not affect the incidence of isolated medial meniscal tears. Level of evidence: III

Keywords:

Meniscal tear , Posterior Tibial Slope , Tibial Plateau