Comparison of Clinical Results for Repairing Lateral Discoid Meniscus Tear between the Contouring Surgery Group and the Additional Repair Group

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare the clinical results of treating lateral discoid meniscus tear between the contouring surgery group and the additional repair group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 60 cases (58 patients) with lateral discoid meniscus tear and who were arthroscopically treated between September 2003 and February 2007 and we followed them for at least two years. The sixty cases were divided into two groups: thirty-two cases underwent contouring surgery (Group A) and twenty-eight cases underwent contouring surgery and repair (Group B). The duration of symptoms, the tear patterns and clinical results between the two groups were investigated. RESULTS: The most frequent types of tear pattern were longitudinal and central hole tears in group A, while complex tear was most common in group B. The mean duration of the symptoms was 5.6 months (range: 1~24) in group A and 16.6 months (range: 1~84) in group B, which was statistically significant (p=0.025). Based on Ikeuchi's grading, the proportions with good or excellent outcomes were not different between the two groups (p=0.12). However, group A had a larger proportion of excellent outcomes (p=0.031) than group B. CONCLUSION: The contouring surgery and additional repair group had a significant longer duration of symptoms, a more complex tear pattern and less excellent results than did the contouring group.