[Meniscus injuries in childhood and adolescence. Causes--treatment--results]

A brief outline of special morphological features of meniscus structure during growth is followed by an analysis of meniscus lesions during this age period. Between 1964 and 1981, we performed altogether 3,579 meniscectomies in our clinic; at that time, only 19 patients (0.5%) were between 3 and 12 years old, 223 cases (6.2%) between 13 and 18 years. Whereas dysplastic changes of menisci were the main causes for meniscectomy in childhood, traumatic lesions of the menisci were prominent in adolescence. A causal relationship to regular activity in sports is assumed. 188 cases (77.7%) could be controlled clinically after an average postoperative period of 8.5 and 10.0 years, respectively. The subjective results were altogether satisfactory. In 11 cases, x-ray examination showed arthrotic changes of the knee joint.