DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC STANDARDS OF MENISCUS LESIONS - RESULTS FROM AN INQUIRY

With a survey among surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons in German speaki ng countries the presently applied diagnostic and therapeutic schemes of meniscus lesions were investigated, In 322 questionnaires alltogeth er 43.958 meniscus lesions were reported. In over 90 % arthroscopy ser ves as diagnostic and therapeutic tool, Two thirds of the surgeons sut ure a longitudinal tear of the outer zone of the meniscus, all the oth er meniscus lesions were foremost treated by partial resection, The po stoperative treatment after meniscus surgery is very inconsistent. All together less preserving meniscus operations were performed than it wo uld be possible according to the literature, On one hand new therapy r egimens are acknowledged by clinical practice with considerable delay, on the other hand the importance of menisci for the integrity of the knee-joint necessitates a further improvement of reconstructive techni ques for preservation of the menisci.