title: Arthroscopic treatment for symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus during childhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to review the operative long-term results of a large cohort of children treated arthroscopically for a symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the arthroscopic procedures performed on 104 knees (97 patients) between 1990 and 2006 to treat symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus in children. The median age at the time of surgery was 8 years (range 2.5-13.9 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The follow-up was 8.5 ± 2.5 (mean ± SD) years (median 9, range 2-18.5 years). In this series, young children (2-7 years) usually presented complete discoid menisci with deficit in extension and little pain. The meniscal tissue was almost degenerated, and subtotal meniscectomy was performed. Children aged from 8 to 14 years referred to our institute typically presented a symptomatic tear (pain and swelling joint with snap) of a complete or incomplete discoid lateral meniscus, usually pursuant to a trauma. The treatment performed in this group was a partial meniscectomy. Clinical results at long-term follow-up show better results for subtotal meniscectomies than for partial ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed the long-term efficacy of arthroscopic treatment of a symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus. On the basis of this study, subtotal meniscectomies in younger patients are preferable when meniscal tissue is degenerated. In older children, we recommend to preserve meniscal tissue as much as possible. In younger patients submitted to subtotal meniscectomies, some adaptation of the knee to stress activity may occur.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic case series, Level IV.
authors.affiliation: VIII Divisione di Ortopedia e Traumatologia Pediatrica, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, via Pupilli, 1, 40136, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stilli
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marchesini Reggiani
authors.forename: Giulio Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Marcheggiani Muccioli
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cappella
authors.forename: Onofrio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Donzelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome