Yocum L A, Kerlan R K, Jobe F W, Carter V S, Shields C L, Lombardo S J, Collins H R
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1979 Apr;61(3):338-42.
To better define the role that the lateral meniscus plays in stabilizing the knee, a study was made of twenty-six patients who had an uncomplicated lateral meniscectomy between 1972 and 1977. Patients with any degree of ligament instability, cruciate or collateral, prior to lateral meniscectomy were eliminated from the study. Also eliminated were any patients with roentgenographic evidence of degenerative arthrits, osteochondritis dissecans, or loose bodies. Only patients whose operative reports stated that the articular cartilage of the lateral compartment was either grossly normal or showed Grade-1 chondromalacia (less than one centimeter in diameter and only softening of the cartilage) at the time of surgery were included in the review. The meniscal lesions included bucket-handle tears, horizontal cleavage tears, and multiple linear defects. No grossly cystic menisci were included in the study. Two menisci demonstrated cystic degenerative changes on histological section. In sixteen patients some degree of ligament instability developed. The longer the interval between injury to the meniscus and its excision, the less satisfactory the result. Only fifteen (54 per cent) of the patients reported satisfactory results, and twenty lost some motion of the knee. We concluded that stability of the knee joint is a multifactorial problem, in which the lateral meniscus certainly plays an important part.
为了更好地确定外侧半月板在稳定膝关节中所起的作用，对1972年至1977年间接受单纯外侧半月板切除术的26例患者进行了一项研究。外侧半月板切除术前有任何程度韧带不稳定（交叉韧带或侧副韧带）的患者被排除在研究之外。有X线片证实的退行性关节炎、剥脱性骨软骨炎或游离体的患者也被排除。纳入回顾的患者仅为手术报告称外侧间室关节软骨在手术时大体正常或显示1级软骨软化（直径小于1厘米且仅软骨软化）的患者。半月板损伤包括桶柄状撕裂、水平劈裂撕裂和多处线性缺损。研究中未纳入有明显囊肿的半月板。有两个半月板在组织学切片上显示有囊性退变改变。16例患者出现了某种程度的韧带不稳定。半月板损伤至切除的间隔时间越长，结果越不理想。只有15例（54%）患者报告结果满意，20例膝关节出现了一定程度的活动度丧失。我们得出结论，膝关节稳定性是一个多因素问题，其中外侧半月板肯定起着重要作用。
