Scott F. Farrell, PT
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2016 Volume:0 Issue:0 Pages:1–33

Study Design
Case-control study.

Background
Cervical spine meniscoids are thought to contribute to neck pain and hypomobility in individuals with chronic whiplash associated disorder (WAD), however their morphology has not been studied in a clinical population.

Objectives
To investigate cervical spine meniscoid morphology in individuals with chronic WAD.

Methods
Twenty volunteers with chronic WAD (mean [SD] age 39.3 [11.0] years, 10 female) and 20 age and sex-matched controls (39.1 [10.6] years) underwent cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging. Lateral atlantoaxial and zygapophyseal joints (C2/3 to C6/7) were inspected for meniscoids. Length of meniscoid protrusion was measured and composition (adipose/fibrous/fibroadipose) assessed. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and linear and logistic regression (P < .05). Results Meniscoids were identified in the chronic WAD (n = 317) and control (n = 296) groups. At the lateral atlantoaxial joints, median meniscoid length was greater in the control group (ventral 6.07 mm; dorsal 7.24 mm) than WAD group (ventral 5.01 mm, P = .06; dorsal 6.48 mm, P < .01). At the dorsal aspect of zygapophyseal joints, meniscoids were more frequently fibrous in the chronic WAD group (odds ratio 2.38, P < .01; likelihood ratio test [LRT] Chi-square [2] = 9.02, LRT P = .01). Conclusion In individuals with chronic WAD, lateral atlantoaxial meniscoids were shorter and dorsal cervical zygapophyseal meniscoids were more fibrous, suggesting alterations in meniscoid composition. This may have pathoanatomical implications in chronic WAD. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, Epub 3 Sep 2016. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.6702