Treating patients with osteoarthritis after meniscectomy.

Removal of the meniscus is associated with later degenerative changes in the postoperative knee. Treatment of patients who present with osteoarthritis (OA) post-meniscectomy should be individualized according to symptoms and findings. Effective diagnostic evaluation requires use of the proper imaging modalities. Localization and description of the pain are important indicators of degenerative arthritis. Nonoperative interventions, including physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, orthoses, and injectable hyaluronate therapy, have been proved to be effective. Safe and effective oral pharmacologic treatments include acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Surgical options include arthroscopic debridement and meniscal allograft transplantation. The surgeon's goal is to preserve meniscal tissue and to slow the progression of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]