Relationship between meniscal injury & articular cartilage defect in arthroscopy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We studied to know the relationship between meniscal injury & defect of articular cartilage and its clinical importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 252 patients were selected, who undergone arthroscopic surgery for meniscal injury from May 1997 to December 2001. We excluded patients with severely progressed osteoarthritis or degenerative changes in simple X-ray. Physical examinations, simple X-rays, MRI & arthroscopic photographs were taken for all patients. And the results were analyzed according to age, duration from accident to operation and type of meniscal injury RESULTS: 40 cases (15.9%) showed defects of articular cartilage with meniscal injury. Among them, 18 cases (45%) in femur, 10 cases (25%) in tibia, and 12 cases (30%) in both. Incidence of articular cartilage defect was significantly higher in patients over the age of forty (p<0.01) and in those with a history longer than six months (p<0.05). Posterior horn tears were associated with the highest incidence of articular cartilage defect, but were also associated with a longer history and with older patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with meniscal injury, older age, long duration of symptom and tear at posterior horn have higher incidence of articular cartilage defect, especially femoral condyle. The reason for this is not entirely clear but these patients need close attention and early treatment.