TREATMENT OF MEDIAL MENISCUS INJURY WITH PARTIAL MENISCECTOMY

Partial meniscectomy involves partial removal of the meniscus. This can vary from minor trimming of the damaged part of the meniscus to the removal of the rip from the meniscocapsular junction. Meniscus tears are the most common knee injury. They may occur in acute knee injuries in younger patients, or as part of a degenerative process in older individuals. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the method of choice for treatment of medial meniscus injuries that, in well selected cases, resulted in a small rate of complications and fast rehabilitation. The study analyzed the results of arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy in 99 patients, in the period from 2005 to 2013, with follow up of 12-14 months. In our series of arthroscopically treated medial meniscus, tears were found in 29 patients with vertical complete bucket handle lesions, 14 with vertical incomplete lesions, 9 with longitudinal tears, 13 with oblique tears, 11 with complex, flap and degenerative lesions, 10 with radial lesions and 13 with horizontal lesions. The mean preoperative International Knee Documentation Committee score was 52.52%, then 81.81% at one month and 92.92% at six months of arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy. Arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy is a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. This procedure is an acceptable and effective long-term treatment, particularly in patients without significant articular cartilage damage, and is associated with minimal morbidity.