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Evers et al: Accuracy of needle arthroscopy for the diagnosis of medial meniscal tears in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture
Veterinary Surgery 6, 2023

🔍 Key Findings

  • Needle arthroscopy (NA) had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for diagnosing medial meniscal tears in dogs with CCLR.
  • NA missed 1 medial and 1 lateral meniscal tear, both nondisplaced and stable.
  • Visibility of all meniscal horns was significantly lower with NA compared to standard arthroscopy (SA) (P < .005 for all horns).
  • Probing the caudal horn of the lateral meniscus was significantly more difficult with NA (P = .0017), though medial horn probing was similar.
  • Mean NA procedure time was 8 ± 3 minutes, significantly shorter than SA (15 ± 9 min, P = .0041).
  • No increase in lameness observed after NA, indicating minimal procedural morbidity.
  • NA was performed under sedation in most dogs, though 10/26 required additional chemical restraint or short anesthesia.
  • NA was most accurate for displaced vertical longitudinal tears, with all 14 correctly identified; one stable tear and a lateral tear were missed.

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← Articles

Evers et al: Accuracy of needle arthroscopy for the diagnosis of medial meniscal tears in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture
Veterinary Surgery 6, 2023

🔍 Key Findings

  • Needle arthroscopy (NA) had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for diagnosing medial meniscal tears in dogs with CCLR.
  • NA missed 1 medial and 1 lateral meniscal tear, both nondisplaced and stable.
  • Visibility of all meniscal horns was significantly lower with NA compared to standard arthroscopy (SA) (P < .005 for all horns).
  • Probing the caudal horn of the lateral meniscus was significantly more difficult with NA (P = .0017), though medial horn probing was similar.
  • Mean NA procedure time was 8 ± 3 minutes, significantly shorter than SA (15 ± 9 min, P = .0041).
  • No increase in lameness observed after NA, indicating minimal procedural morbidity.
  • NA was performed under sedation in most dogs, though 10/26 required additional chemical restraint or short anesthesia.
  • NA was most accurate for displaced vertical longitudinal tears, with all 14 correctly identified; one stable tear and a lateral tear were missed.

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Evers 2023 et al., on medial meniscal tear detection, what was the average procedural time for needle arthroscopy (NA)?

A. 5 minutes
B. 8 minutes
C. 10 minutes
D. 12 minutes
E. 15 minutes

Answer: 8 minutes

Explanation: Mean ± SD time for NA was 8 ± 3 minutes.
In Evers 2023 et al., on medial meniscal tear detection, what was concluded regarding the morbidity associated with needle arthroscopy?

A. It caused moderate morbidity in most dogs
B. It required frequent sedation
C. It caused transient worsening of lameness
D. It showed no significant morbidity
E. It led to infection in 10% of cases

Answer: It showed no significant morbidity

Explanation: No significant difference in lameness scores was noted before and after NA, indicating minimal morbidity.
In Evers 2023 et al., on medial meniscal tear detection, what was the reported sensitivity of needle arthroscopy (NA)?

A. 85%
B. 90%
C. 95%
D. 98%
E. 100%

Answer: 95%

Explanation: NA had a sensitivity of 95% compared to standard arthroscopy as the gold standard.
In Evers 2023 et al., on medial meniscal tear detection, what percentage of medial meniscal tears were correctly diagnosed with NA?

A. 92%
B. 95%
C. 96%
D. 98%
E. 100%

Answer: 95%

Explanation: NA correctly diagnosed 19 out of 20 medial meniscal tears (95%).
In Evers 2023 et al., on medial meniscal tear detection, which aspect of the procedure was significantly more difficult using NA compared to SA?

A. Port placement
B. Meniscal probing of the medial horn
C. Shaving of CCL remnants
D. Meniscal probing of the lateral horn
E. Fluid delivery

Answer: Meniscal probing of the lateral horn

Explanation: The caudal horn of the lateral meniscus was significantly harder to probe with NA (*P* = .0017).
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy for meniscal tears, which type of meniscal tear was most accurately detected using needle arthroscopy?

A. Horizontal flap
B. Vertical longitudinal, displaced
C. Vertical longitudinal, nondisplaced
D. Vertical radial
E. Horizontal longitudinal

Answer: Vertical longitudinal, displaced

Explanation: All 14 displaced vertical longitudinal tears were correctly identified by needle arthroscopy.
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy for meniscal tears, which meniscal structure was significantly harder to probe using needle arthroscopy versus standard arthroscopy?

A. Cranial horn of medial meniscus
B. Caudal horn of medial meniscus
C. Cranial horn of lateral meniscus
D. Caudal horn of lateral meniscus
E. None were harder

Answer: Caudal horn of lateral meniscus

Explanation: Probing the lateral caudal horn was significantly more difficult with NA (*P* = .0017).
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy for meniscal tears, what was the mean duration of needle arthroscopy procedures?

A. 4 minutes
B. 6 minutes
C. 8 minutes
D. 12 minutes
E. 15 minutes

Answer: 8 minutes

Explanation: Needle arthroscopy took 8 ± 3 minutes, significantly faster than standard arthroscopy.
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy for meniscal tears, what was the reported sensitivity for diagnosing medial meniscal tears?

A. 85%
B. 90%
C. 95%
D. 97%
E. 100%

Answer: 95%

Explanation: Needle arthroscopy showed 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for medial meniscal tear diagnosis.
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy for meniscal tears, what best describes the procedural morbidity of needle arthroscopy?

A. Mild lameness in most dogs
B. Moderate swelling post-procedure
C. No increase in lameness
D. High rate of infection
E. Requires full anesthesia

Answer: No increase in lameness

Explanation: There was no statistically significant difference in lameness before and after needle arthroscopy.

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