Mini-arthrotomy for lateral discoid menisci in children.
BACKGROUND
Long-term results after partial, extended, or complete resection of lateral discoid meniscus in children revealed knee arthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the operative approach, arthrotomy or arthroscopy, has an impact on the outcome and the development of arthritis.


METHODS
A retrospective comparison of 2 well matching groups totaling 40 children with symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus (48 knees, mean age 8.9 years, 13 male and 27 female patients). Meniscus resection was performed via mini-arthrotomy in group 1 (n=17 patients, 20 knees) and arthroscopically in group 2 (n=23 patients, 28 knees).


RESULTS
In the follow-up (mean 57 months in group 1, 62 months in group 2), functional results indicated a trend to better results in the International Knee Documentation Committee score (P=0.12) and in the Lysholm score for group 1 (P=0.13) but not in the Ikeuchi score (P=0.48). The comparison of the radiographic arthritis grading in the follow-up showed no significant arthritis in either group (P=0.22). The overall complication rate was similar in both groups (2/20, 10% in group 1; 3/28, 12% in group 2).


CONCLUSIONS
Most likely because of the appropriate visualization of the children's joint and the easier instrumentation, the mini-arthrotomy led to slightly superior results compared with those after arthroscopic resection regarding functional outcome and 5 years after surgery. We can recommend the mini-arthrotomy for the resection of lateral discoid meniscus particularly in young children with narrow joint spaces and for surgeons that are not familiar with arthroscopies of small joints.


METHODS
III (therapeutic study, case series with control group).
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inselspital, University of Berne, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Berne, Switzerland.
Fabian Götz
FG
Krause
Ulrich
U
Haupt
Kai
K
Ziebarth
Theddy
T
Slongo
D000293:Adolescent; D001168:Arthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome