Late results of meniscectomy of the knee. A follow-up study of 41 patients.

A follow-up study was undertaken to study the late results and complications of meniscectomy of the knee. The material consisted of 43 operations, with an observation period of 5 to 20 years. The purpose of the study was to investigate the appearance of osteoarthrosis after the operation, correlating the degree of osteoarthrosis with the physical findings and subjective complaints of the patient. 14 patients showed osteoarthrotic changes, which may have been caused by the operation and/or by a pre-existing menisceal trauma. The osteoarthrotic changes were related to clinical pathological findings, but not necessarily to subjective complaints.