2023 Annual Meeting Knee Access Pass-The Grey Zone: Treating Meniscal Tears in the Early Arthritic Knee

The Grey Zone: Treating Meniscal Tears in the Early Arthritic Knee

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Elizabeth Mattsken discusses the "gray zone" in treating early arthritic knees with symptomatic meniscal tears. While arthroscopy is generally discouraged for osteoarthritis, certain patients with KL3-level arthritis may benefit from arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Her study of 468 patients, including 82 with KL3 arthritis, shows that many experience significant clinical improvement at one and two years post-surgery, though benefits may decline over time. Despite mixed literature and study limitations, arthroscopy can offer meaningful relief for selected patients after conservative treatments fail. Ultimately, treatment decisions remain uncertain and probabilistic in this complex patient group.

Asset Caption

Elizabeth Matzkin, M.D.

Keywords

early arthritic knees

symptomatic meniscal tears

arthroscopic partial meniscectomy

KL3-level arthritis

clinical improvement post-surgery