Paper #172 Clinical results after arthroscopic meniscectomy for discoid lateral menisci

Abstract

The clinical results after meniscectomy for the discoid meniscus has been variable especially in the long term follow up. We reviewed the cases of one hundred nineteen knees with symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus who underwent total, subtotal or partial arthroscopic meniscectomy between January 1990 and December 1999. The mean age at surgery was 30.5 years old (range: three to sixty years) at the time of operation. Preoperative duration of symptoms was 16.8 months and average duration of follow up was 60.1 months. At arthroscopy, 91 menisci were complete, 28 menisci were incomplete type. Patients were divided into three groups based on the type of surgery. Arthroscopic total meniscectomy was underwent in 47 cases of knee, subtotal meniscectomy in 21 cases and partial meniscectomy in 51 cases. On the basis of Ikeuchi grading system, 34 knees were graded as excellent, 62 knees were rated as good, 22 knees were rated as fair and 1 knee as poor. Longer duration of symptom and older age had a statistically significant higher risk of developing chondromalacia in knee joint (P = 0.001). But no correlation was found between symptom duration and type of meniscal lesion. In patients who had had total meniscectomy for the complete type of lesion and partial meniscectomy for the incomplete type, results were satisfactory respectively in cases of less than 5 years follow-up. We found unsatisfactory results with significant preoperative chondromalacia and longer follow up. The clinical results after meniscectomy for the discoid meniscus has been variable especially in the long term follow up. We reviewed the cases of one hundred nineteen knees with symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus who underwent total, subtotal or partial arthroscopic meniscectomy between January 1990 and December 1999. The mean age at surgery was 30.5 years old (range: three to sixty years) at the time of operation. Preoperative duration of symptoms was 16.8 months and average duration of follow up was 60.1 months. At arthroscopy, 91 menisci were complete, 28 menisci were incomplete type. Patients were divided into three groups based on the type of surgery. Arthroscopic total meniscectomy was underwent in 47 cases of knee, subtotal meniscectomy in 21 cases and partial meniscectomy in 51 cases. On the basis of Ikeuchi grading system, 34 knees were graded as excellent, 62 knees were rated as good, 22 knees were rated as fair and 1 knee as poor. Longer duration of symptom and older age had a statistically significant higher risk of developing chondromalacia in knee joint (P = 0.001). But no correlation was found between symptom duration and type of meniscal lesion. In patients who had had total meniscectomy for the complete type of lesion and partial meniscectomy for the incomplete type, results were satisfactory respectively in cases of less than 5 years follow-up. We found unsatisfactory results with significant preoperative chondromalacia and longer follow up.