Meniscal regeneration in the long-term after total meniscectomy?

A cohort of 39 patients (28 male, 11 female) that had undergone total menis cectomy as adolescents (mean age 16 years)(1) underwent FISP 3D Magnetic Re sonance Imaging(2) at a mean follow up of 30 years. The presence of menisca l tissue was assessed by two independent observers blinded to the operation details. The volume of any meniscal tissue present was calculated. A poste rior horn remnant was seen in 57% of medial and 45% of lateral meniscectomy cases. The mean volume of an operated medial meniscal remnant was 0.29 mL, compared with a mean volume of 1.15 mt for an intact medial meniscus. The m ean volume of an operated lateral meniscal remnant was 0.30 mt compared wit h 1.07 mt for an intact lateral meniscus. We have shown that the incidence of incomplete excision of the posterior horn is more common after total med ial meniscectomy, and that at a mean follow up of 30 years there is no conv incing in vivo MRI evidence of long-term meniscal regeneration.