Predicting Results after Partial Meniscectomy

Researchers from the Harvard Medical School reviewed 25 studies of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). The studies were done on adult patients of all ages. The goal of the review was to find ways to predict the outcome of APM. X-ray findings and function were the two main measures of results.

Here’s a summary of what they found:

  • Greater arthritic changes in the knee occur with larger meniscal tears, especially in women.
  • The most severe tears (grade IV) often need further surgery.
  • Function is worse after APM for patients who also have a loose or lax anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the same knee.
  • Degeneration of the joint cartilage is linked with results (worse results with degeneration).
  • Age is not linked with results.
  • The type of tear (up and down or sideways) isn’t as important as the size of the tear.

    This study shows that surgeons could be helped by knowing the size of meniscal tear before going into the operating room to repair the damage. In the future, MRIs may be done before surgery to confirm the size of the tear. The next study? Using MRIs to predict outcomes of APM.