Arthroscopic partial and total meniscectomy: A long-term follow-up study with matched controls

Andersson-Molina H, Karlsson H, Rockborn P · Arthroscopy

Radiographic changes were present in 6 of 18 knees (33%) after partial meniscectomy and 13 of 18 (72%) after total meniscectomy, and in 4 of 36 controls (11%). Joint space narrowing beyond half the joint space appeared in 1 knee after partial resection and 7 after total resection. Almost 70% of all patients had a Lysholm score above 94 at 14 years, and 5 of 36 (14%) reported symptoms in daily activities.

Population

36 men with stable knees and no previous knee injury, matched into partial and total meniscectomy groups of 18, each matched to a person with no history of knee injury; re-examined 14 years after surgery

Intervention

Clinical and radiographic examination at 14 years

Limitations

Retrospective, 36 men, and allocation to partial or total resection was the surgeon's decision rather than random. The radiographic gradient tracks how much meniscus was removed; the symptom scores at 14 years were good in both groups, which the authors note. Full text was not retrievable.