Arthroscopic Saucerization and Repair of Discoid Lateral Meniscal Tear

Meniscal tears are among the most commonly diagnosed knee injuries and often require surgical intervention. Understanding the types of meniscal tears and treatment options is paramount to caring for the young athlete. Sports medicine and arthroscopic physicians now recognize that meniscal preservation in the young athlete is essential to the long-term health and function of the knee. Although uncommon, the discoid lateral meniscus is more prone to injury because of its increased thickness and lack of blood supply. Because of the abnormal development, the peripheral attachments are frequently absent and instability often persists after a partial meniscectomy. If the instability is unrecognized during the initial treatment, a recurrence of pain and mechanical symptoms is likely and a subsequent subtotal meniscectomy may be the only treatment option. With increased awareness, arthroscopic saucerization accompanied by arthroscopically assisted inside-out meniscal repair is a preferable treatment option with an excellent outcome.