Management of discoid lateral meniscus tears: observations in 34 knees.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to evaluate arthroscopic partial resection of discoid lateral meniscus tears with an emphasis on radiographic evidence of degenerative changes after this procedure.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
Of 41 patients with an arthroscopic diagnosis of discoid meniscus over an 8-year period, 34 symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus tears in 33 patients were analyzed at an average follow-up of 5.6 years. The average age at operation was 19.8 years and most patients had vague and intermittent symptoms that caused delay in clinical diagnosis.


RESULTS
Eight patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the study. Magnetic resonance imaging, performed in 12 cases, and arthroscopy in all of these patients provided the precise diagnosis. All of the knees with symptomatic torn discoid menisci underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Only 1 Watanabe Wrisberg ligament type of discoid meniscus with posterior instability was totally meniscected. Based on Ikeuchi's grading, 39% of the knees had an excellent result, 46% had a good result, and 15% had a fair result; none of the results was poor.


CONCLUSIONS
At an average 5-year follow-up, partial meniscectomy in patients with a Watanabe complete or incomplete discoid meniscus showed 85% good or excellent clinical results. However, a significant percentage of patients show femoral condyle flattening on radiography.
Atay
O Ahmet
OA
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Hacettepe University Medical Center, Ankara, Turkey. oaatay@yahoo.com
Doral
M Nedim
MN
Leblebicioğlu
Gürsel
G
Tetik
Onur
O
Aydingöz
Ustün
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome