[Intramural internal meniscectomy using the Trillat technic. Long-term results of 258 operations]

A study of 258 meniscectomy (245 patients), with a minimum follow-up of twenty years, confirms the excellent functional result obtained by intramural medial meniscectomy performed for isolated meniscus lesions. The joint remodelling, with absence of joint-space narrowing, represents the radiological cicatrix resulting from this surgery. It is a non-evolutive condition. The incidence of meniscectomy in the occurrence of an arthrosis is low (20%). On the other hand, when the meniscus lesion in associated with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, medial meniscectomy often proves to be inadequate. Clinical and radiological evolution is governed by tearing of the ligament. The radiological signs are, in this case, characteristic on unilateral weightbearing in profile at 20 degrees flexion. At the end of this study, the signs described by Fairbank (9) are discussed and the factors liable to determine the onset of a late arthrosis after medial meniscectomy are analysed.