ARTHOSCOPIC PARTIAL MENISCECTOMY - A 12-YEAR FOLLOW-UP AND 2-STEP EVALUATION OF THE LONG-TERM COURSE

The long-term results after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of 119 p atients with a mean follow-up of 12 years are presented in this study. The same series of patients had an earlier follow-up 4 years postoper atively. Thus, an evaluation of the actual long-term course and not on ly a single result after partial meniscectomy is presented. Arthroscop ic partial meniscectomy is shown to be the definitive means of therapy for meniscal lesion of the knee joint; 91.7% of patients had an excel lent or good result 4 years after surgery, and 78.1% rated excellent o r good 12. years after surgery. Full recovery regarding ability to wor k and sports activity level was achieved in a very high percentage of patients. Early results were mostly representative and did not change significantly during the long-term course for the isolated meniscal le sion. The factor with the highest impact on long-term results was dama ge to the articular cartilage, which did not influence knee function f or several years after surgery but became increasingly symptomatic ove r time after 5 years and more. Only 62% of patients with additional ca rtilage damage rated excellent and good 12 years after surgery, in con trast with 94.8% good and excellent results in patients with isolated meniscal tears. Similar observations were made for the untreated ruptu re of the anterior cruciate ligament.