Young Children with a Bucket-Handle Tear to the Discoid Lateral Meniscus Successfully Treated Using Arthroscopic...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Knee Arthroscopy

Background:

• Discoid lateral meniscus, a congenital anomaly, can cause knee pain and mechanical symptoms in children.
• Bucket-handle tears of the discoid meniscus are uncommon, especially in very young children.
• Symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus cases in pediatric populations are rarely documented.

Approach:

• This study presents a case series of two young children (28 months and 5 years old) with symptomatic lateral discoid meniscus bucket-handle tears.
• Both patients underwent arthroscopic saucerization and repair of the torn meniscus.
• Post-operatively, a long leg cast was applied for one month to maintain knee extension.

Key Points:

• Successful arthroscopic treatment for bucket-handle tears of the lateral discoid meniscus in pediatric patients.
• Early restoration of full range of motion and resolution of antalgic gait by three months post-surgery.
• Long-term patient and parent satisfaction reported at 2 and 3-year follow-ups.
• The study includes the youngest reported case of this condition at 28 months old.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic saucerization and repair is a viable and effective treatment for bucket-handle tears of the lateral discoid meniscus in young children.
• The technique demonstrates good functional outcomes and patient satisfaction in this pediatric cohort.
• This approach is suitable even for patients under three years of age, addressing a gap in current literature.