Isolated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Functional radiographic evaluation at five years

Fifty patients who underwent isolated arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with a minimum followup of 5 years were analyzed retrospectively. To analyze the factors associated with a satisfactory or an unsatisfactory clinical result, we looked at the patient's age, duration of symptoms, type of meniscal lesion, and articular cartilage abnormalities. The patients were graded with a functional knee score (Lysholm-Gillquist), and activity level before surgery and at followup was determined. The data also included radiographic evaluation of 29 of the 50 patients. Tibiofemoral alignment was measured, and osteoarthritic changes were graded and correlated with the type of meniscal abnormality and functional result. Eighty-two percent of our patients had satisfactory knee function, and the activity level was maintained. The factors associated with a satisfactory result after a partial meniscectomy included age less than 40 years, symptoms less than 12 months duration, type of tear, and chondromalacia less than grade II. Fairbank's changes were present in 50% of the patients, with significant grade III and IV changes identified in 30%. Although the radiographic changes did not necessarily correlate with the functional result, we felt that the changes were significant and indicative of abnormal stress transfer to articular cartilage and bone.