Results after meniscectomy in 147 athletes.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Knee Biomechanics

Background:

• Meniscus injuries are common in athletes, often necessitating surgical intervention.
• Meniscectomy, the surgical removal of meniscus tissue, is a frequent treatment for such injuries.
• Understanding the long-term consequences of meniscectomy on athletic function is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional outcomes and consequences of meniscectomy in athletes who sustained meniscus injuries during sports.
• To identify the prevalence of post-operative complaints and their correlation with physical findings and further knee injuries.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective follow-up study of 142 athletes who underwent meniscectomy between 1964 and 1973.
• Data collection included follow-up assessments of knee complaints, sports participation, further surgical treatments, and physical examination findings.
• Analysis of the onset and nature of knee complaints post-surgery.

Main Results:

• 8% of athletes required further surgery for new knee injuries during the follow-up period (median 4.25 years).
• 15% stopped sports and 12% reduced activity due to knee complaints; 46% reported no complaints.
• Instability and pain on weight-bearing were the primary complaints, often starting immediately post-operation and correlating with physical findings like increased collateral instability (14%).

Conclusions:

• Meniscectomy leads to immediate functional knee changes, explaining post-operative complaints such as instability and pain.
• These functional deficits can significantly affect an athlete's ability to continue sports participation.
• No correlation was found between post-meniscectomy complaints and radiological osteoarthrosis.