Arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy: an analysis of unsatisfactory results.

Results of 150 arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomies were analyzed by computer to identify the factors that lead to an unsatisfactory (fair or poor) outcome. The average follow-up for the group was 36 months (range 24-60 months). One-hundred ten men and 40 women were involved, with an average age of 48 years. The overall results were 58% excellent-good, 28% fair, and 14% poor. Most tears involved the posterior horn (76%). Bucket-handle, longitudinal, and flap tears were rated 88% excellent-good, whereas horizontal cleavage and degenerative and complex tears had only 45% excellent-good scores. The results were adversely affected by the severity of the chondromalacia, work-related injury, prior knee surgery, simultaneous lateral meniscectomy, and increased knee laxity. Because degenerative posterior horn tears had such a high percentage of unsatisfactory results, the question remains as to whether all these tears need to be removed.