Effects of medial meniscectomy in patients older than forty years.

Forty-nine of the sixty-five consecutive patients who were more than forty years old when medial meniscectomy was performed returned for follow-up evaluation one to twelve years postoperatively. Pain was present in 62.2 per cent of the patients with so-called degenerative tears and in 75 per cent of those with so-called traumatic tears. The medial joint space was significantly thinner in the patients with degenerative tears than in those with traumatic tears. The roentgenographic findings of osteoarthritis were significantly more severe on the side operated on. The femorotibial angle was always in relatively more varus angulation on the involved side (mean, 5.3 degrees) than on the uninvolved side.