The guidelines were created to help orthopedic specialists treat patients suspected of suffering from or diagnosed with an acute isolated meniscal tear, according to a July 1 news release from the organization.
Acute isolated meniscal tears often occur from a traumatic injury with rotation and flexion of the knee or direct impact, and they are common among high school and college athletes.
The new guidance includes a strong recommendation that an MRI be used as the preferred imaging modality to diagnose acute meniscal tears because of its high accuracy.
Additionally, a moderate recommendation suggests patients receive a physical examination, including joint line tenderness, to effectively diagnose acute meniscal tears.
Another moderate recommendation stated that surgery should preserve as much functional meniscal tissue as possible to mitigate patient risk for osteoarthritis.
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