Late Results after Meniscectomy

TLDR

A cohort of 213 patients with uncomplicated meniscus injuries was followed 10–30 years after meniscectomy to assess long‑term outcomes. Long‑term follow‑up showed that surgical timing had no effect, younger patients fared worse, women had less clear benefit, total versus partial meniscectomy made no difference except for bucket‑handle tears where preserving the peripheral rim yielded the best outcomes, activity level did not alter results, radiographic findings correlated with clinical status in most cases, and overall 68 % were satisfied but only 45 % of men and 10 % of women were symptom‑free.

Abstract

Two hundred thirteen patients with uncomplicated meniscus injuries were studied from ten to thirty years after their meniscectomy in order to determine the late effects of surgery. Delay of operation after injury did not affect the ultimate result. Patients less than twenty years old at the time of operation had fewer excellent and good results. The diagnosis is more difficult, and the benefit of meniscectomy is less certain, in women than in men. There was no difference in results between total and partial meniscectomy except in bucket-handle tears. Leaving the peripheral rim intact in uncomplicated bucket-handle tears produced the most excellent results. Persistence in a physical occupation or participation in non-contact sports seems not to alter the course after meniscectomy. It was usually, but not invariably, possible to correlate roentgenographic appearance with the clinical result. The meniscectomy site was readily apparent in ninety-four of 110 patients (85 per cent). Sixty-eight per cent of patients in our series had satisfactory clinical results, but only 45 per cent of men and 10 per cent of women had symptom-free knees.