Association of Posterior Horn Meniscus Tears with Obesity: A Retrospective Study

Our study aims to determine the association between obesity and meniscal tears involving the posterior third of the medial meniscus and meniscal root tears. We conducted a 3-year retrospective review of isolated operatively treated meniscal injuries in adult patients performed by a single surgeon. Cases with concomitant pathology were excluded. Patient demographics, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded and compared against location of meniscus tear noted via magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic imaging. Eighty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 65.2% were obese (BMI > 30) and 10.1% were morbidly obese (BMI > 40). Average BMI across all patients was 32.6 ± 6.7. Forty-four patients had a tear involving the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, including 20 involving the meniscal root. The average BMI of patients with tears involving the meniscal root was 35.7 ± 6. There was a statistically significant association between type of meniscus tear and BMI as well as height. Obese patients were more likely to have a posterior horn of the medial meniscus tear (odds ratio [OR]: 1.59) and meniscal root tear (OR: 124.67), as were morbidly obese patients (OR: 2.21 and 5.41, respectively). Elevated BMI is associated with posterior horn of the medial meniscus tear. Obesity and morbid obesity are strongly associated with meniscal root tears and tears included in the posterior third of the medial meniscus.