The long-term evaluation of lateral meniscus tears left in situ at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to determine the long-term subjective and objective results for patients with lateral meniscus tears found at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction that were left in situ or abraded and trephined but not repaired or removed.


METHODS
Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.


METHODS
From a database of ACL reconstruction patients, 332 patients were noted to have lateral meniscus tears that were left in situ or underwent abrasion and trephination. Exclusion criteria included lateral or medial partial meniscectomy, previous knee surgery, or greater than grade II chondromalacia in any knee compartment. The tears were classified as posterior horn tears (n = 70), stable radial flap tears (n = 50), or peripheral or posterior tears (n = 212). Patients were evaluated subjectively using a modified Noyes knee questionnaire and objectively using International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) criteria.


RESULTS
At a mean of 6.6 years (range, 2 to 16.5 years) after surgery, the mean total modified Noyes score for 239 patients was 93.8 +/- 7.6 points. At a mean of 5.1 +/- 3.8 years after surgery, the objective IKDC evaluation showed that 163 of 170 (96%) patients had an overall rating of normal or nearly normal. Radiographic evaluation showed that 162 patients (95%) had a normal rating, 6 patients had a nearly normal rating and 2 patients had an abnormal rating. Of 332 patients, only 8 (2.4%) required subsequent surgery for the lateral meniscus.


CONCLUSIONS
Lateral meniscus tears that are posterior horn tears, stable radial flap tears, or peripheral or posterior third tears that do not extend further than 1 cm in front of the popliteus tendon can be treated successfully with abrasion and trephination or by being left in situ.


METHODS
Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Shelbourne
K Donald
KD
Shelbourne Clinic at Methodist Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. tgray@aclmd.com
Heinrich
John
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome