LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER ARTHROSCOPIC MENISCECTOMY - THE ROLE OF PREEXISTING CARTILAGE FIBRILLATION IN A 13 YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF 60 PATIENTS

Sixty patients with stable knees and arthroscopic menisectomy were mat ched into two groups according to the presence of early degenerative c hanges at the operation. Patients with severe cartilage changes were e xcluded. The patients were between 20 and 40 years of age at the opera tion and no patient had previous surgery on the involved knee. The int raarticular findings were documented at surgery and the patients were reexamined 12 to 15 years after the meniscectomy. Pre-existing cartila ge fibrillation at the meniscectomy did not seem to influence the long -term results. At the follow-up no difference was found between the gr oups at the physical examination, in subjective complaints, in knee fu nction and activity or in radiographic findings. In the total group 62 % had early signs of arthrosis (Fairbank changes) and 42 % narrowing of the joint space (Ahlback grade 1-2) in the operated knee. No one ha d more severe changes. Radiographic signs of arthrosis were 4 times co mmoner in the operated knee compared to the non-operated kne after par tial meniscectomy and 7 times commoner in the operated knee after subt otal meniscectomy. Arthrosis at the follow-up was seen three times mor e often in patients older than 30 years of age at surgery than in youn ger patients. The functional outcome was good and 70 % were still acti ve in sports compared to 90 % before the operation.