Arthrography in the investigation of persistent pain after meniscectomy

The authors report 62 patients in whom arthrography of the knee had been performed because of persistent pain after menisectomy. In about 60% of the cases the interval between operation and arthrography was less than 18 months. The causes of residual pain identified by arthrography were divided into meniscal and extra meniscal. The most frequent findings were remnants of pathological meniscal tissue; lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament; synovial and chondral pathology. Thirty patients were checked by arthroscopy and were subjected to further operation. In 80% of these cases the arthrographic findings corresponded exactly with the operative findings. The writers confirm that arthrography is still a valid method of investigation in patients affected by persisting pain after meniscectomy.