title: Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy: a long-term follow-up.
abstract: A follow-up study was conducted to clarify the clinical and radiological long-term consequences of arthroscopic meniscus resection. One hundred thirty-six patients who had unilateral arthroscopic resection of an isolated meniscal tear attended for an interview and a physical and radiological examination. Follow-up averaged 8.5 years, with a range of 7.9-11.6 years. The reoperation rate was as high as 22.8%, but was the lowest in the bucket handle tear group (13%). Pain after exercise was less frequent among patients treated for a bucket handle tear compared to other lesions. Fifty-three percent of the patients had at least one of the Fairbanks change in the operated knee and only 22% in the control knees. The radiographic result was not influenced by the type of meniscus lesion nor were high age or intraoperatively described cartilage damage factors of significance. Malalignment less than 4 degrees of valgus and greater than 10 degrees of valgus was found to be a significant risk factor for the development of degenerative changes following meniscus resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faunø
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D013997:Time Factors