Meniscectomy

SAN FRANCISCO — The published literature has shown meniscus repair to be a successful technique, with slower osteoarthritis progression and better long-term outcomes compared with meniscectomy, according to a presenter here.

Patients with knee osteoarthritis who undergo arthroscopic partial meniscectomy experience “heightened” progression in osteophytes, cartilage surface area and effusion-synovitis from baseline to 18 months, according to data.

Innovation is required in areas of unmet clinical need, and this can be no truer than in the symptomatic post-meniscectomized knee.

A 20-year-old female professional soccer player presented after a noncontact injury during a soccer scrimmage. Examination demonstrated a high-grade Lachman test, a large effusion and an otherwise stable knee.

Tranexamic acid decreases postoperative pain, swelling, drainage output, joint aspirations and hemarthrosis in patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery, with no increase in complications or operative time, results showed.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An artificial meniscal implant helped maintain articular knee cartilage in patients with 2-year minimum follow-up vs. nonsurgical treatment and was linked with reduced pain starting at 6 months, according to a presenter.

At 20 years, patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy for degenerative meniscus tears were converted to total knee replacement at a 15.7% rate, according to published results.

WAILEA, Hawaii — In this video from Orthopedics Today Hawaii 2021, Jack M. Bert, MD, spoke about meniscectomy and meniscus repair.

Compared with a traditional opioid regimen, a multimodal, nonnarcotic, pain management protocol provided “equivalent or better” pain control and outcomes following primary meniscectomy or meniscal repair, according to published results.

Patient satisfaction with overall care following arthroscopic meniscal repair was equivalent between telehealth and traditional office-based follow-ups, according to study results.