Arthroscopic treatment of the discoid lateral meniscus: results of long-term follow-up.

Twenty-two patients (25 knees) were evaluated at an average follow-up of 54 months for clinical results of arthroscopic treatment of the discoid lateral meniscus syndrome. Discoid lateral menisci were classified arthroscopically as incomplete (92%) or complete (8%); no Wrisberg-type lesions were noted. Three patients (14%) had bilateral lesions. Symptomatic torn discoid menisci (20 knees) and torn discoid menisci with other significant symptomatic lesions (3 knees) underwent arthroscopic partial lateral meniscectomy utilizing the saucerization technique. Asymptomatic intact discoid menisci (2 knees) were left unresected. Using the knee scale of Ikeuchi, 55% of the symptomatic torn lesions were rated as excellent or good, 30% were rated as fair, and 15% were rated as poor at follow-up. Two of the 3 asymptomatic torn lesions were rated as excellent or good, as were both of the intact discoid lesions. Factors associated with an unsatisfactory rating at follow-up included preexistent degenerative changes, age, and sex. Duration of symptoms, type of discoid tear, and length of follow-up were not necessarily related to outcome results. Seven knees (28%) required arthroscopic reevaluation at a postoperative average of 23 months, documenting apparent physiologic function of the saucerized rim in 4 patients and failure of saucerization in 3 patients (12%). Overall, 14 of the 22 patients in this study (64%) resumed a normal activity level postoperatively, including 61% of those with symptomatic torn discoid lateral menisci.