[Arthroscopic internal meniscectomy in patients over 55 years of age. Results over more than 4 years].

Fifty-one meniscectomies by arthroscopy were realised on patients of more than 55 years of age between 1981 and 1986. Twenty-four patients were reviewed after at least 4 years of follow up, 12 of them after a 7.5 years follow up. 21 results were noted as functionally very good or good, 3 were poor. The radiological analysis of femoro-tibial compartments in comparison with the non operative side showed a clear pejorative difference in one case, moderate in 5 without incriminating the morphological type. If the quality of result does'nt correlate with age, it was'nt the same for the type of lesion seen during arthroscopy, the best results after arthroscopic meniscectomies were seen in traumatic lesions occurring on normal menisci or on degenerative ones. The authors concluded that medial meniscectomy in patients older than 55 years is justified in precise indications: a known traumatism or also acute medial pain, or speedy with normal or subnormal X-ray and after a positive arthrography.