[A comparative study on short-term effects of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in treating medial versus lateral meniscus injuries].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the short-term effects of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in treating medial versus lateral meniscus injuries.


METHODS
From January 2003 to January 2006,207 patients with meniscus injury (without intraarticular ligament injury) underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. The medial meniscus injury group included 115 cases, 50 males and 65 females; aged 14 to 78 years (mean 46.9 years); 66 left knees and 49 right knees. Twenty-six cases had injury histories, the delayed time from injury to surgery ranged from 6 d to 6 months (mean 2.1 months). The lateral meniscus injury group included 92 cases,18 males and 74 females; aged 16 to 62 years (mean 41.1 years); 57 left knees and 35 right knees. Twenty-four cases had injury histories,the delayed time from injury to surgery ranged from 9 d to 6 months (mean 1.9 months). Lysholm score system was applied and the scors of pre- and post-operation and were compared between two groups.


RESULTS
The period of follow-up ranged from 12 to 45 months (mean 31.5 months). In medial meniscus injury group and lateral meniscus injury group, the Lysholm score increased from 61.3+/-16.9 and 57.4+/-17.6 preoperation to 95.0+/-7.9 and 93.3+/-7.4 postoperation respectively. There was statistically significant difference between preoperation and postoperation (P<0.01), and there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). The excellent and good rates for function of knee joint were 97.39% (excellent in 107 cases, good in 5 cases and fair in 3 cases) in medial meniscus injury group and 100% (excellent in 80 cases and good in 12 cases) in lateral meniscus injury group.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is a safe and effective treatment for meniscus injury, there is no diference in short-term effects in treating medial versus lateral meniscus injuries.
Zhu
Yue
Y
Department of Orthopaedics, Sixth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiaotong University, 200233, P. R. China. zhuyue999999@yahoo.com.cn
Zhao
Jinzhong
J
He
Yaohua
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult