A meniscal avulsion is a traumatic incident that results in the knee meniscus - or a portion of it - tearing away from its previously firm anchorage to the tibia bone.

Page updated January 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)

menisco-tibial avulsion or floating meniscus
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.

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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.

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Peer-reviewed papers

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Synonyms: 
Meniscus avulsion
Floating knee meniscus
Floating meniscus
Menisco-tibial ligament avulsion
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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...