Roentgenographic changes after arthroscopic meniscectomy: five-year follow-up in patients more than 45 years old.

Fifty knees with a mean follow-up time of greater than 5 years after arthroscopic meniscectomy were evaluated clinically and roentgenographically. Clinically, patients did well, with 98% patient satisfaction and 90% good or excellent results based on a modified Lysholm score. Although postoperative roentgenography showed some progression of Fairbank's changes in 61% with significant progression in 15% of knees, when changes in the nonoperative knee were considered, only 40% of operative knees showed progression, with only 4% of these knees showing significant progression. Normal results on preoperative anteroposterior roentgenography with the patient weight bearing and an anatomic tibiofemoral axis of greater than or equal to 4 degrees of valgus correlated with better long-term roentgenographic results.