Meniscal avulsion

An avulsion of the menisco-tibial ligament results in an incompetent 'floating' meniscus. The injury is generally associated with other ligamentous damage in the knee, although the meniscus itself is usually intact. (left: intact, right: avulsed)

Floating meniscus

A floating meniscus is really a radiological diagnosis where the MRI scan reveals a fluid gap between the bottom of the meniscus and the tibia bone, where the meniscus has avulsed from the tibia.

The meniscus itself is not actually torn, but without this anchorage to the tibia it becomes incompetent as a shock absorber.

• Quote from peer-reviewed paper:

  "....corresponds to a meniscal avulsion or detachment from the tibial plateau with an associated disruption of the meniscotibial coronary ligaments, which attach the meniscus to the tibia...."

  Citation: Bikkina RS, Tujo CA, Schraner AB, Major NM. The "floating" meniscus: MRI in knee trauma and implications for surgery. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005 Jan;184(1):200-4. doi: 10.2214/ajr.184.1.01840200. PMID: 15615974.

Back to top

Meniscus incompetence after meniscal root avulsion

Avulsion of the meniscal root can lead to immediate incompetence, and the meniscus may extrude over the edge of the tibia.

• Quote from peer-reviewed paper:

  "The presence of a floating meniscus on MRI is a result of significant trauma to the knee leading to meniscal avulsion and is often associated with significant ligamentous injury."

  Citation: Bikkina RS, Tujo CA, Schraner AB, Major NM. The "floating" meniscus: MRI in knee trauma and implications for surgery.

Back to top