Arthroscopic meniscectomy for discoid lateral meniscus in children and adolescents: 10-year follow-up.

Seventeen adolescents underwent arthroscopic lateral meniscectomy for discoid lateral meniscus. The average age at surgery was 13.6 years (range: 5-18 years). The main preoperative symptom was pain in 16 knees and extension loss in 1 knee. At arthroscopy, 10 menisci were complete, 4 were incomplete, and 3 were Wrisberg type. Arthroscopic total meniscectomy was performed in the 3 Wrisberg types, 2 complete types, and 1 incomplete type. The remaining menisci underwent partial meniscectomy. The average follow-up was 10 years (range: 5-15 years). According to the Ikeuchi rating system, 12 knees were rated as excellent (no symptoms and full range of motion), 4 were rated as good (occasional pain), and 1 was rated as fair (patellofemoral pain in an obese patient). Radiographic evaluation showed development of minor osteophytes in the lateral compartment of 8 knees and <50% narrowing of the lateral joint space in 11 knees. No correlation was found between meniscal type, type of meniscectomy (partial or total), and clinical and radiographic results. Arthroscopic lateral meniscectomy for discoid lateral meniscus in adolescents was effective in relieving symptoms during a 10-year follow-up period. Longer follow-up is needed to ascertain the significance of the radiographic changes seen in this study.