KUMJ | VOL. 20 | NO. 1 | ISSUE 77 | JANUARY - MARCH, 2022
Meniscal Tear at Knee: Repair or Resect? An Early Experience from a University Hospital in Nepal
Shrestha R, Khadka SK, Basi A, Malla M, Thapa S, Tripathi A, Shrestha R
Abstract: Background
The meniscus plays an important role in maintaining healthy articular cartilage.
Meniscus tear, one of the common intra-articular knee lesions, is treated by either
debridement or repair.
Objective
This study aims at identifying the early outcome of meniscus tears treated by
debridement or repair. This study also elaborates on the spectrum of meniscal
injuries presented in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal.
Method
A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Orthopedic
Department of Dhulikhel Hospital from February 2018 until January 2020 among
patients who underwent knee arthroscopies for meniscal tears treated either by
debridement or repair. Patients having intra articular fractures, osteochondral
injuries and multi-ligament injuries were excluded. The meniscal tears were classified
according to location and type of tear. Those patients who had at least one-year
of follow up were evaluated with Lysholm score for functional outcome. Data were
compiled and analyzed with Microsoft Excel 2011.
Result
One hundred and ten cases of meniscal tears were managed over the study period.
Ninty-three cases could be traced for outcome evaluation, which included 50 cases
of meniscal debridement and 43 cases of meniscal repair. The mean Lysholm score of
the patients who received debridement was 81.5 (SD 10.4) and those who received
meniscal repair was 84.9 (SD 9.1) (p=0.105). The population distribution was found
to be similar in both the groups according to age and sex distribution and associated
ligamentous injuries.
Conclusion
Good functional outcome was seen for meniscal tears managed with debridement
or repair in at least one year follow up and could not establish one modality of
management better than the other.
Keyword : Arthroscopy, Debridement, Meniscus, Repair
