Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Knee Joint Meniscal Tears in a Selected Diagnostic Centre in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background Meniscal tears are a common cause of knee pain and disability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the principal noninvasive modality used to evaluate suspected meniscal tears, but its reported diagnostic performance and tear patterns vary across settings, and evidence from northern Nigeria remains limited. Aim To evaluate MRI findings of knee joint meniscal tears among patients examined at a selected diagnostic centre in Kano State, Nigeria. Methods Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed archived MRI images and radiology reports of 50 patients who underwent knee MRI for suspected meniscal tear at Medserve Kano Diagnostic Centre, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, using a 1.5-T Siemens scanner. Data were analysed in SPSS 26.0 using appropriate descriptive statistics. Ethical approval was obtained from the Kano State Ministry of Health Research Ethics Committee. Results The age of the 50 participants ranged from 15 to 65 years (median 31.5 years, IQR 16 years), with marked male predominance (86%). Complex tears (24%) and horizontal tears (20%) were the most frequent tear patterns, while 38% of participants had no clearly classifiable tear pattern. Posterior horn involvement predominated in both the medial meniscus (53%) and lateral meniscus (35.5%). Anterior cruciate ligament injury was the most common associated finding (80.0%), followed by joint effusion (34.0%). Meniscal tear distribution across the right and left knees was broadly similar, with a slight predominance of lateral meniscus involvement on the right and combined medial/lateral involvement on the left. Conclusion In this Kano-based cohort, meniscal tears occurred predominantly in young, male patients, most frequently as complex or horizontal tears involving the posterior horn, and were strongly associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury. These findings broadly parallel international patterns while also diverging in some respects, underscoring the value of local MRI data and the need for larger, multicenter studies with arthroscopic correlation in this setting.