The natural history of the meniscus in anterior cruciate insufficiency. Arthroscopic analysis.

We studied arthroscopically the meniscal pathology in 100 patients with functional instability of the knee from isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament at an average time of three years after injury. Meniscal tears were observed in 86 patients and multiple lesions of both menisci were common. An incomplete longitudinal cleavage, visible on both surfaces of the posterior horn, was seen in more than half the knees and seemed to indicate progressive meniscal deterioration. Clinical examination was unreliable and we suggest that arthroscopic assessment is necessary for accurate diagnosis and staging.