Lateral discoid meniscus: treatment and results

Forty-six patients (47 knees) who had symptomatic discoid lateral menisci were operated on between August 1981 and May 1989. The patients were categorized according to Watanabe's classifications: complete (80.8%), incomplete (10.6%), and Wrisberg type (8.5%). The treatment of the discoid meniscus is based on total or partial meniscectomy, achieved by the percutaneous or arthrometric technique. Of the 47 knees, 30 underwent a follow-up evaluation. Using Ikeuchi's knee scale, 27 cases (90%) had either excellent or good ratings, and 3 (10%) received fair ratings. There were no poor outcomes. The results in the knees treated by partial meniscectomy were better than those in the knees treated with total meniscectomy.