OUTCOME OF ARTHROSCOPIC MENISCECTOMY - A 13-YEAR PHYSICAL AND RADIOGRAPHIC FOLLOW-UP OF 43 PATIENTS UNDER 23 YEARS OF AGE

We reexamined 43 patients with stable knees at a mean of 13 years afte r arthroscopic meniscectomy. The patients had a maximum age of 22 year s at the operation and no patient had had previous surgery on the invo lved knee. At the follow-up examination, no differences in range of mo tion, muscle strength or tibial A/P displacement were seen between the operated and the nonoperated knees and 36 patients had no problem wit h their knee in daily life. Radiographic changes were found in the ope rated knee in 20 patients and in the nonoperated knee in 5 patients. 8 patients had a reduction of the joint space on the involved side, but none had more severe changes. Cartilage fibrillation at the index art hroscopy did not increase the radiographic changes at follow-up, but r adiographic changes were commoner after subtotal meniscectomy (7/8) th an after partial meniscectomy (17/35). These findings are similar to p revious studies of arthroscopic meniscectomy of medium duration and do not differ considerably from studies of open meniscectomy.