Arthroscopic treatment of 105 lateral meniscal cysts with 5-year average follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate meniscal damage and the midterm clinical outcome, we performed a retrospective review of 105 lateral meniscal cysts that were treated arthroscopically at our institution.


METHODS
Retrospective review.


METHODS
From a series of 8,100 knee arthroscopies, 122 patients (1.5%) with 124 lateral meniscal cysts were selected. Eight of the patients were lost to follow-up and 11 patients had associated pathology; therefore, 105 lateral meniscal cysts on stable knees were included in this study. Average follow-up was 5 years (range, 1 to 12.5 years). The mean age was 33 years (range, 12 to 69 years). All patients had presented with tenderness over the joint line with a palpable mass. All cases were treated arthroscopically and all patients underwent a complete physical examination before surgery and at last follow-up. Radiographic evaluation was available at final follow-up for 68 cases.


RESULTS
All patients had a meniscal tear at the time of surgery and 60 (57%) had a horizontal cleavage component. For meniscal tears, arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy was performed in 104 cases and meniscal repair in 1 case. For cysts, intra-articular debridement was performed in 91 cases and open cystectomy in 14. Eleven cysts recurred and a second arthroscopy was required. The clinical results, including those cases with recurrent cysts, were excellent or good in 87% of cases. Osteoarthritis following treatment for meniscal cysts occurred in 9% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
When there was a cyst and no other intra-articular damage, the prognosis was excellent. For lateral meniscal cysts, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with intra-articular debridement yields predictable results.


METHODS
Level IV.
Orthopaedic Department, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France. hulet-c@chu-caen.fr
Christophe
C
Hulet
David
D
Souquet
Pierre
P
Alexandre
Bruno
B
Locker
Jacques
J
Beguin
Claude
C
Vielpeau
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies