Non-operative treatment of degenerative posterior root tear of the medial meniscus.
We reviewed thirty patients with degenerative posterior root tear of the medial meniscus to investigate clinical results of non-operative treatment retrospectively. There were 3 men and 27 women at a median age of 59 years old (range, 51-65). The median follow-up period was 36 months (range, 24-51). Non-operative treatments included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs daily for 8-12 weeks and supervised physical therapy twice a week at least during a period of 8 weeks. The symptoms, physical signs, the Visual Analog Scale pain, the Lysholm Knee Scoring scale and IKDC subjective activity level were analyzed at the time of pre-intervention, 6 months, 12 months and the final follow-ups. Most patients had intense mechanical pain initially, but the severity and frequency of pain was decreased within 3 months. Clinical outcome was improved at 12 months follow-up and then declined to a level that was still improved over initial scores at final follow-up. Two patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 progressed to grade 3 at the median follow-up of 36 months. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that non-operative treatment provided symptomatic relief in most patients with the degenerative posterior root tear of the medial meniscus and functional improvements in a short term follow-up.
Lim
Hong Chul
HC
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Bae
Ji Hoon
JH
Wang
Joon Ho
JH
Seok
Chang Woo
CW
Kim
Min Keun
MK
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal