[Meniscus injury in osteoarthritis of knee joints: under arthroscopy]

To study the occurrence rate of meniscus injury in osteoarthritis (OA) of knee joint and inquire into the significance of meniscus injury in diagnosis and treatment of OA.

125 knees of 120 cases with OA as the first diagnosis were observed when debridement was done under arthroscopy. The occurrence rate of meniscus injury and the relationship between the degree of OA and meniscus injury were analyzed. The curative effect of selective joint space debridement with meniscus fitting and resection was evaluated.

Pain was the most common symptom of this group. 32 cases (25.6%) had locked knee but without loose body in the joint according to X ray. 22 joints (17.6%) were diagnosed as OA accompanied by meniscus injury before operation. The average LYSHOLM score was 52. Medial and lateral meniscus injury was observed in 41 joints (32.8%) and 21 joints (16.8%) respectively, 7 of them (5.6%) had injury at both sides. The type of meniscus injury under arthroscopy mainly included wear at different parts (29.0%), brush-like damage at the edge (12.9%), different kinds of rupture (51.6%), and bucket handle tear (1.61%). There was an obvious positive correlation between the degree of meniscus injury and cartilage damage. The coincidence rate of the diagnoses before and after operation was 40.0%. The total satisfactory rate was 89.6%, 86.4%, and 83.2% and the satisfactory rate of those meniscus injury were 94.5%, 91.0%, and 87.3% 3, 6, and 12 months after operation. The average LYSHOLM score was 77, 74, 71 and 85, 82, 79 respectively.

A of knee joint is usually accompanied by meniscus injury, and these 2 pathologic changes aggravate each other. In some patients the symptoms and progress of OA may not be ameliorated and the progress of OA may not be postponed if only conservative treatment is adopted.