ABSTRACT
Between March 1991 and April 2001, over 1800 arthroscopic meniscus surgeries were performed at our unit of arthroscopy. Seventy-three of these procedures were for the treatment of discoid lateral meniscus in seventy patients, three were bilateral. The age of the patients was nine to thirty two at the time of operation [average 22 years]. The patients were categorized according to Watanabe's classification into: complete [58 Knees], incomplete [14 Knees] and Wrisberg type [1 Knee]
The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the relationship of the type of the discoid meniscus to the tear pattern, and to reach the optimum arthroscopic technique in resection dynamics of the discoid lateral meniscus. The mean follow up was 5.7 years [ranging 10 months to 10 years]
According to the scale of lkeuchi, the results were excellent in 45 knees, good in 12 knees, fair in 12 and poor for 4 knees
The 4 poor cases included two cases that lost some range of flexion [limited to 115[degree]-120[degree]] at their last follow up. The other two cases were from the earlier surgeries, both had intraarticular infection, one responded to long duration of parental antibiotics, and the second necessitated arthroscopic drainage, lavage and suction drain, both cases resolved with some residual pain
Arthroscopy is very helpful in diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus and its tear pattern; it is the most effective for its resection with lowest morbidity