[Arthroscopy for degenerative meniscal tears: from standard to exception]

Abstract

Osteoarthritis of the knee is often accompanied by degeneration of the meniscus. Worldwide, the arthroscopic partial meniscectomy has been a standard of care for patients with knee pain in the presence a degenerative meniscal tear. However, in recent years, clinical studies have proven that a meniscectomy is not effective in the osteoarthritic knee. Physiotherapy is often as effective. The updated Dutch guidelines for meniscal tears therefore recommend an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy or fixation in case of a locked knee and for traumatic meniscal tears in younger patients. There also is an indication for a meniscectomy after failure of conservative treatment in case of a symptomatic meniscal tear in the absence of osteoarthritis.