Arthritis and meniscectomies (meniscus removal)

After-effects (saequeles) of meniscectomies

Meniscectomy (surgical ablation of the meniscus or meniscus removal) can lead to osteoarthritis of the knee: this has been well-known since 1948 with the work of T. J. Fairbanks ("Knee joint changes after meniscectomy" - J.B.J.S. Br. 1948). According to a recent study  in1996 of the SFA (French Society of Arthroscopy), a meniscectomy can lead to radiological marks of arthritis of the knee (not necessarily symptomatic) after 10 years in 20% - 40% of cases on a knee presenting  a healthy anterior cruciate ligament. If, on the other hand, a meniscectomy is carried out in the presence of an anterior cruciate ligament's rupture (not operated), the radiological marks of osteoarthritis are present at 25 years in 95% of the cases (Med Thesis. "Meniscectomie of the knee: very distant results " Ph. Neyret 1987).