The meniscocapsular junction is the region where the knee meniscus attaches to the capsule that surrounds the knee joint.

Page updated October 2023 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

tear of the meniscocapsular junction
The arrow is showing a tear in the meniscocapsular junction.

 

Vulnerable areas

The integrity of the menicocapsular junction is not the same all the way around the two menisci. In particular there is a gap at the back of the lateral meniscus where the popliteus tendon passes between the two, creating a vulnerable area there.

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Why is a meniscocapsular junction lesion significant?

Tears of the area where the meniscus is tethered to the capsule may go unrecognised - commonly when there is a concomitant ligament injury (eg ACL) dominating the clinical picture. Their significance become apparent when knee laxity continues despite ligament reconstruction.

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Peer-reviewed papers

  • Quote:

    "this type of injury is often missed, both during MRI reading and due to its "blind" point of arthroscopic vision....[and]....may lead to meniscocapsular or meniscotibial disruption."

    Citation: Taneja AK, Miranda FC, Rosemberg LA, Santos DCB. Meniscal ramp lesions: an illustrated review. Insights Imaging. 2021 Sep 25;12(1):134. doi: 10.1186/s13244-021-01080-9. PMID: 34564751; PMCID: PMC8464645.

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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...