The Factors Affecting The Prognosis of Arthroscopic Meniscectomy

Kim, Jung Man; Choi, Nam Yong; Lee, Heung Sub

Abstract

Between May 1982 and October 1983, arthroscopic meniscectomy had been performed in 54 knees between ages of 11 and 70 years. There were 32 male patients and 22 female patients in this series. The mean follow-up was 20 months, ranging from 15 months to 33 months. Postoperative complications developed were retropatellar tenderness and effusion. No infection, thrombophlebitis or instability occurred postoperatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the various possible prognostic factors upon the developtnent of the above mentioned complications. The factors included were 1) shape of tear, 2) ligamentous injury, 3) degenerative arthritia, 4) discoid lateral meniscus, 5) quadriceps atrophy, 6) sites of meniscus(medial or lateral) & extent of excision, 7) preoperative retropatellar tenderness and 8) method of rehabilitation. The findings were statistically analyzed by the Chi-square test (df-1) & Fisher's direct probability method. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The rate of development of postoperative effusion was significantly high in cases of quadriceps atrophy (P<0.01) and preoperative retropatellar tenderness(P<0.01). 2. The rate of deveopment of postoperative retropatellar tenderness was significantly high in case of discoid lateral meniscus (P <0.01). 3. There was no significant correlation between complications and other factors including shape of tear, preoperative degerative arthritis, site of meniscus & extent of excision and methods of rehabilitation.