A systematic review of clinical outcomes in patients undergoing meniscectomy

Salata MJ, Gibbs AE, Sekiya JK · The American Journal of Sports Medicine

Predictors of a poor clinical or radiographic result were total meniscectomy or removal of the peripheral rim, lateral rather than medial meniscectomy, a degenerative tear, existing chondral damage, hand osteoarthritis suggesting a genetic predisposition, and higher body mass index. Tear pattern, age, mechanical alignment, sex, activity level and tears alongside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were not predictive or gave mixed results. Repair of degenerative meniscal tissue did not do well.

Population

4 randomised trials, 2 prospective cohorts and 23 retrospective cohorts meeting level I to III criteria, the retrospective ones requiring at least 5 years of follow-up

Intervention

Meniscectomy

Limitations

A preponderance of low-level evidence with no uniformity between studies, which the authors say outright; they argue a multicentre prospective cohort would suit the question better than more trials. Full text was not retrievable.