Long-term results of arthroscopic meniscectomy following traumatic and nontraumatic tears

Our study is to radiologically and clinically compare the long term results of arthroscopic meniscectomy performed for nontraumatic meniscal tears due to mucoid degeneration (MD) (Group A) and for traumatic meniscal tears (Group B). We believe that clinical and radiological results of facts nontraumatic meniscal tears due to mucoid degeneration are poorly then traumatic meniscal tears.38 patients between the ages of 18 to 45, who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy between 1995 and 2005, with an average 15 years follow-up (group A n=20, group B n=18) were included in the study. Lysholm score and Tegner activity level were used for clinical comparison. Moreover, KOOS and IKDC were used at final follow-up and VAS scores were also compared. The radiographic changes were graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence classification. Student-t tests, Mann Whitney U test and Chi-squared test were used depending on whether the demographic characteristics, preoperative arthroscopy information, clinical scorings and radiographic data of the patients are distributed parametrically or not. SPSS 22.0 statistical analysis software was used in all analyses and the statistical significance decision value was accepted as p<0.05. Groups were similar in terms of demographic features and treatment protocols. Lysholm scores and Tegner activity levels were increased at average 15 years following arthroscopic meniscectomy. The increase in Tegner activity levels was not statistically significant in the nontraumatic group (Group A). No significant differences were detected in KOOS, IKDC and VAS scores at follow-up. Groups were similar on Kellgren-Lawrence classification and most of patients had early degenerative changes in radiographically. The clinical and radiologic results of both groups were found out to be statistically similar. Moreover, clinical recovery and radiographic degenerative findings were detected in both groups.