Morphometric assessment of menisci: Structural and functional information

Introduction: Menisci are fibrocartilaginous structures of the knee joint that play an important role in joint stability, load transmission, and shock absorption. Morphological variability of the menisci is of extreme importance for orthopedic procedures and predisposition to injury. The current study provides a detailed morphometric analysis of the human cadaveric medial and lateral menisci of specific interest for statistical analysis and clinical significance. Methodology: Thirty adult human cadaveric knee specimens were dissected, and various morphometric parameters were measured using Vernier calipers. The methodology aligns with previously validated anatomical dissection techniques and sample handling protocols reported in meniscal morphometry literature, ensuring consistency in anatomical reference planes and regional measurements. Statistical analysis included mean, standard deviation, confidence intervals, and correlation coefficients to assess relationships between different morphometric attributes. A comparative review of existing literature was conducted to validate the findings. Results: The medial meniscus demonstrated a significantly greater mean length of 7.25 ± 0.92 cm in comparison to the lateral meniscus, which measured 5.97 ± 0.85 cm ( P = 0.013). In terms of width, the medial meniscus recorded a measurement of 5.49 ± 0.31 mm, while the lateral meniscus exhibited a slightly greater width of 5.92 ± 0.35 mm; however, this difference was not statistically significant. Thickness measurements indicated more pronounced disparities, with the medial meniscus measuring 2.4 ± 0.3 mm and the lateral meniscus measuring 1.6 ± 0.4 mm. A Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the length and width of the medial meniscus. The findings revealed a moderate positive correlation ( r = 0.42, P = 0.023), indicating that a statistically significant association that suggests an increase in length is proportionately related to an increase in width. Discussion: The results are consistent with the reported study that the medial meniscus is more oval and fixed to the lateral meniscus and that it is more prone to suffer from the degenerative types of injury. A discoid lateral meniscus was present in 3% of the samples, consistent with the reported epidemiology. The morphometrical variants are informative about the joint’s biomechanics and about the operation planning for the meniscus repair and substitution. The study follows the work of Smith et al . and Johnson and Lee, who reported the same type of anatomical variants within different populations. The lateral meniscus, with its superior elasticity and adaptability, shows greater resilience than the medial meniscus according to recent literature. Conclusion: The study here reported demonstrates a statistically significant and clinically informative morphometric analysis of the knee menisci that constitutes a valuable reference for orthopedic practice. Future research with larger sample sizes and more representative demographic profiles will enhance the external validity of these findings.