Arthroscopic meniscectomy

Arthroscopic meniscectomy is a surgical keyhole procedure to remove all or part of the meniscus of the knee.

arthroscopy
The arthroscope provides illumination and projects a camera image onto a monitor above the surgeon's head. The other hand controls the instruments to cut free the damaged part of the meniscus.

 

Extent of the meniscectomy

A meniscectomy may be a trimming of the meniscus, a partial meniscectomy - where only part of the meniscus is removed - or a full meniscectomy where the whole of the meniscus is removed. A key concern is the extent of resection of the important outer rim of the meniscus.

-

Related Content

What is meniscus preservation and why does it matter?

The reasons why doctors nowadays try to preserve the meniscus.

Structural and functional consequences of meniscectomy

Although a patient may feel relief after a meniscectomy, there is invariably an effect on the joint which in the longer term may lead to joint surface damage and structural changes.

Meniscectomy

Removal of the torn meniscus fragment.

2008 - Comparison of the Collagen Meniscus Implant with Partial Meniscectomy.

An 'interpretation' of a 2008 paper looking at whether the use of a collagen meniscus is valuable after meniscus injury. The conclusion was there there was some likely benefit in patients who had had a previous meniscectomy but not in patients who had just torn their meniscus.

-

CLINICAL PUBLICATIONS

Arthroscopic meniscectomy. Rosenberg TD, Metcalf RW and Gurley WD. Instr Course Lect. 1988;37:203-8.

See also -

eBook on managing meniscal injuries

eBook - Managing Meniscal Injuries

eBook on meniscal avulsions

eBook - Meniscus Avulsion