Postmeniscectomy osteonecrosis of the knee: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Postarthroscopic osteonecrosis of the knee (PAONK) is a rare form of osteonecrosis for which the pathogenesis and etiology remain poorly understood; however, there is evidence of a close association with meniscectomy in most PAONK cases. Based on this evidence, postmeniscectomy osteonecrosis of the knee (PMONK) has been suggested as a new category. As early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can improve prognosis, there is a need to differentiate PMONK from spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK). This differentiation is specifically important in the Middle East and Arab countries where PMONK and PAONK have not been reported before, which could have resulted from under-reporting or under-diagnosis. To address this gap, we present a case of PMONK from this region and discuss assessment findings and treatment relative to the current evidence.