HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sommerlath, K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sommerlath, K.

The importance of the meniscus in unstable knees

A comparative study

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden

This study analyzes differences in knee function in ACL deficient knees with different meniscus status. Eighty patients, 12 women and 68 men, were matched in four groups according to sex, age, knee injuries, and follow up time. Group I had two intact menisci; Group II, one meniscus successfully repaired; Group III, one menis cus removed; and Group IV, both menisci removed.

The ACL was repaired acutely or reconstructed later in most cases and other significant ligament injuries were treated. All patients were reexamined clinically 6 to 8 years after injury. Knee function was recorded using the Lysholm knee function score. Activity level before injury and at followup was rated with the Tegner scale. Stability was tested and weightbearing roentgen ograms were taken.

There was a higher frequency of ACL reconstructions in Groups I and II, but instability was the same in all groups. No difference was found in Lysholm score (range, 86 to 92). The activity level was higher in Group IV at followup. A lower frequency of motion impairment was found in Group III, (20% versus 50%). Subjective evaluation was similar and positive in all groups. Group I had six meniscus ruptures during the follow-up period. In Group II three of the repaired menisci were removed, as were two of the contralateral menisci in Group III. Roentgenograms, available in 55 of 80 cases, showed osteoarthritis in 65%. There were no differences in the frequency of osteoarthritis among the first three groups, but Group IV had a higher incidence of osteoar thritic changes. Osteoarthritis did not result in lower knee function, poorer subjective evaluation, or in creased impairment of motion. Of the patients with osteoarthritis, more maintained their preinjury activities. In terms of function and osteoarthritis, instability and chosen activity level seemed to be of prognostic impor tance.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Mesiha, D. Zurakowski, J. Soriano, J. H. Nielson, B. Zarins, and M. M. Murray Pathologic Characteristics of the Torn Human Meniscus Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 2007; 35(1): 103 - 112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. D. McDermott and A. A. Amis The consequences of meniscectomy J Bone Joint Surg Br, December 1, 2006; 88-B(12): 1549 - 1556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Beynnon, R. J. Johnson, S. Braun, M. Sargent, I. M. Bernstein, J. M. Skelly, and P. M. Vacek The Relationship Between Menstrual Cycle Phase and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Case-Control Study of Recreational Alpine Skiers Am. J. Sports Med., May 1, 2006; 34(5): 757 - 764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Beynnon, R. J. Johnson, J. A. Abate, B. C. Fleming, and C. E. Nichols Treatment of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Part I Am. J. Sports Med., October 1, 2005; 33(10): 1579 - 1602. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Messner and W. Maletius Eighteen- to Twenty-Five-Year Follow-up After Acute Partial Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 1999; 27(4): 455 - 459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Muellner, A. Egkher, A. Nikolic, M. Funovics, and V. Metz Open Meniscal Repair: Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings After Twelve Years Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 1999; 27(1): 16 - 20. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F. van Trommel, P. T. Simonian, H. G. Potter, and T. L. Wickiewicz Different Regional Healing Rates with the Outside-In Technique for Meniscal Repair Am. J. Sports Med., May 1, 1998; 26(3): 446 - 452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Lundberg and K. Messner Ten-Year Prognosis of Isolated and Combined Medial Collateral Ligament Ruptures: A Matched Comparison in 40 Patients Using Clinical and Radiographic Evaluations Am. J. Sports Med., January 1, 1997; 25(1): 2 - 6. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Lundberg and K. Messner Long-Term Prognosis of Isolated Partial Medial Collateral Ligament Ruptures: A Ten-Year Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of a Prospectively Observed Group of Patients Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 1996; 24(2): 160 - 163. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Sommerlath, J. Lysholm, and J. Gillquist The long-term course after treatment of acute anterior cruciate ligament ruptures: A 9 to 16 year followup Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 1991; 19(2): 156 - 162. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. M. White, M. E. Schweitzer, D. Weishaupt, J. Kramer, A. Davis, and P. H. Marks Diagnosis of Recurrent Meniscal Tears: Prospective Evaluation of Conventional MR Imaging, Indirect MR Arthrography, and Direct MR Arthrography Radiology, February 1, 2002; 222(2): 421 - 429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]