[Meniscal root lesions: clinical relevance and treatment]

Meniscal roots play an important role in load distribution of the tibiofemoral knee joint. Thus, meniscal root tears are severe injuries of the knee, which significantly expose cartilage to increased stress. Two entities are distinguished: (i) acute root tears that mainly affect the posterolateral root and often occur with ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament; and (ii) chronic, degenerative root tears that mainly affect the posteromedial root. For diagnosis of both entities, the patient's medical history, a knee examination and especially MRI play key roles. The treatment of choice is in general transtibial fixation of the torn root, which leads to an increased clinical improvement and a decrease of the progression of arthritis.