Niu et al reported the Meniscal Symptoms Index (MSI) for detection of symptomatic meniscual tears. This can help to triage patients for additional studies. The authors are from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Boston University.
Target symptoms:
(1) clicking sensation or clicking noise
(2) "catching" (momentarily unable to complete a movement)
(3) giving way (unable to bear weight)
(4) localized pain (centered at a single point)
Each symptom was scored as absent (0 points) or present (1 point).
Otehr symptoms not included in score:
(1) episodic pain, pain with activity or pain with pivoting
(2) episodic swelling
(3) locking
(4) popping
total score =
= SUM(points for all 4 symptoms)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 4
• The higher the score the more likley that the patient has a meniscal tear.
|
Score
|
Percent with Symptomatic Tear
|
|
0
|
16%
|
|
1
|
21%
|
|
2
|
36%
|
|
3
|
55%
|
|
4
|
76%
|
Limitation:
• The size of the tear is not scored.
• A score of 0 has a 16% chance of a symptomatic tear, so other symptoms must be present.
