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Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate mid-to-long-term clinical and radiological outcomes after an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) in young patients and to determine whether degeneration of the residual meniscus and articular cartilage progresses during the follow-up period using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients aged ≤ 40 years at surgery who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for symptomatic DLM and were followed up for ≥ 5 years. Lysholm knee scores and reoperation rates were assessed as clinical outcomes. Factors that affect clinical outcomes were evaluated. Tapper-Hoover classification and femorotibial angle were used for radiological assessment. The degree of degeneration of articular cartilages and residual meniscus was evaluated using preoperative and follow-up MRIs.Results: A total of 73 knees (66 patients) were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 10.0 years. The mean follow-up Lysholm knee score was 84.2 ± 14.5, and the reoperation rate was 32.9%. Follow-up Lysholm knee scores were related to duration of symptoms prior to surgery (β = - 0.129, P = 0.003) and femorotibial angle at the last follow-up (β = 1.362, P = 0.045). On simple radiographs, progression of arthritis of the lateral compartment was observed in 68.5% (49 knees). In MRI analyses, degeneration of the residual meniscus progressed in 52.9% (34 knees) (P < 0.001), and significant changes in modified Yulish scores were observed in both lateral femoral and tibial condyles (P < 0.001, both condyles).Conclusions: After an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for symptomatic DLM, unfavorable clinical outcomes were shown in > 30% of the patients during a mean follow-up of 10.0 years. Clinical outcomes based on the patient-reported outcome measures were related to durations of symptoms prior to surgery and alignment at the last follow-up. In radiological and MRI assessments, progression of degeneration of articular cartilages in the lateral compartments of the knees and residual menisci was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Meniscal extrusion is related to degeneration of the native knee joint. However, the clinical effect of the phenomenon after meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has not been clearly identified. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in meniscal extrusion in both the coronal and sagittal planes after lateral MAT through the midterm follow-up period. We hypothesized that meniscal extrusion does not progress during the midterm follow-up period. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 46 patients with a mean follow-up of 51.1 ± 7.1 months were included in the study. The patients underwent lateral MAT using the keyhole technique. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 6-week, 1-year, and midterm (3- to 5-year) follow-up. In the coronal plane, the absolute value of meniscal subluxation and the relative percentage of extrusion (RPE) were measured. In the sagittal plane, meniscal subluxation was measured as the absolute and relative anterior cartilage meniscal distance (ACMD) and posterior cartilage meniscal distance (PCMD). The joint-space width (JSW) on weightbearing radiographs with 2 different knee positions was measured preoperatively and at 1-year and midterm follow-up. The Lysholm score was assessed at the same time points. Results: In the coronal plane, the mean absolute meniscal extrusion at 6-week, 1-year, and final follow-up was 2.90 ± 0.94, 2.85 ± 0.97, and 2.83 ± 0.89 mm, respectively, and the mean RPE was 27.0% ± 9.4%, 27.1% ± 10.1%, and 27.8% ± 9.7%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in absolute and relative coronal extrusion among the 3 time periods (P > .05). The percentage of patients with meniscal extrusion (≥3 mm) was 37.0% at 6-week follow-up and 34.8% at 1-year and final follow-up. In the sagittal plane, the mean absolute ACMD was 2.59 ± 1.75, 2.58 ± 1.85, and 2.37 ± 1.60 mm, respectively, and the mean relative ACMD was 20.7% ± 13.1%, 20.6% ± 13.8%, and 19.0% ± 12.2%, respectively, at the 3 follow-up time points. The mean absolute PCMD was −1.23 ± 3.34, −1.28 ± 3.08, and −1.42 ± 2.77 mm, respectively, and the mean relative PCMD was −10.3% ± 25.9%, −11.0% ± 24.6%, and −12.2% ± 23.2%, respectively, at the same time points. Sagittal extrusion was not significantly different between the time points (P > .05). The mean JSW at 2 days preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and midterm follow-up was 5.40 ± 1.07, 5.44 ± 1.04, and 5.43 ± 0.98 mm, respectively, on anterior-posterior radiographs with full extension, and it was 4.90 ± 0.94, 4.94 ± 0.98, and 4.89 ± 0.96 mm, respectively, on posterior-anterior radiographs with 45° of flexion. The mean JSW values were not significantly different between the 3 different time points (P > .05). The mean preoperative Lysholm score was 58. 9 ± 8.3; the score increased to 90.4 ± 9.7 at 1 year postoperatively and 90.5 ± 10.1 at final follow-up, which is a significant improvement compared with the preoperative status (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the scores at the 2 postoperative time points (P > .05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that extrusion of the meniscal allograft did not significantly progress either in the coronal or sagittal plane after lateral MAT during the midterm follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]