Meniscal tear morphology independently affects pain relief following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in middle-aged patients.

Purpose: To analyze the influence of meniscal tear pattern on clinical outcomes following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in middle-aged patients with medial meniscal tears.

Methods: A total of 123 patients (130 knees) aged ≥ 50 years who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for medial meniscal tears were evaluated. Inclusion criteria were none to moderate medial knee osteoarthritis [Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade ≤ 3] and a minimum of 2-year follow-up (median 4.6 years; range 2.1-8.0 years). Meniscal tears observed during arthroscopic examination were classified into six types: radial tear of the middle segment, posterior root tear, horizontal tear of the posterior segment, flap tear, minor tear, and complex tear. Postoperative outcomes were classified into effective (group 1) and non-effective (group 2) according to the pain relief administered 1 month postoperatively and at the final follow-up. Demographic variables, KL grade, type of meniscal tear, and postoperative follow-up period were evaluated.

Results: Forty knees (38%) were classified into group 1. Of the six types of tears, radial tear of the middle segment [odds ratio (OR) 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-20.9] and flap tear (OR 12.9, 95% CI 1.8-140.7) were significant predictors of good outcome on multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions: In middle-aged patients with medial meniscal tears, radial tear of the middle segment was independently associated with less pain following arthroscopic meniscectomy. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy may be indicated in patients with radial tear if conservative treatment fails.

Level of evidence: Case-control study, Level III.