Different approach in meniscal lesion management – save the meniscus

Abstract

The menisci are fibrocartilaginous structures that play a crucial role in knee stability and cartilage protection. Meniscal lesions represent the most common knee injuries and are the major reason for patients undergoing knee surgery. Along with the development of arthroscopic techniques, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, as a less invasive procedure that removes only the damaged part of the meniscus, became the gold standard in the treatment of meniscal lesions. Although arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is a minimally invasive procedure, after which patients quickly return to their daily activities, it has a devastating long-term impact on the knee cartilage, resulting in an accelerated development of the knee osteoarthritis.Therefore, the techniques of meniscal repair are increasingly promoted since the 1990s.Although clinical studies show satisfactory long-term results after such procedures, unfortunately, meniscal repair is still not performed frequently enough. The aim of this review is to emphasize the importance of the meniscus in the preservation of the cartilage of the knee and to present, on the basis of literature data, contemporary insights into the etiology, classification, diagnosis, and treatment of meniscal lesions.