AANA Knee Arthroscopy - September 2024-Don’t Bother with Repair--Partial Meniscectomy is Best for These Tear Types

Don’t Bother with Repair--Partial Meniscectomy is Best for These Tear Types

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Laith Jhazraoui advocates for increased use of partial meniscectomy over meniscus repair, emphasizing its favorable clinical outcomes despite traditional concerns about arthritis. He notes that meniscus repairs have a high failure rate (~30% within two years) and may still lead to arthritis, sometimes worse than after partial meniscectomy. While repairs suit young patients with specific tear types (vertical red-red tears), many cases, especially degenerative or complex tears, fare better with partial resection. He highlights the importance of patient counseling about risks and realistic expectations, arguing that partial meniscectomy often offers quicker recovery and acceptable long-term results compared to repairs.

Asset Caption

Laith M. Jazrawi, M.D.

Keywords

partial meniscectomy

meniscus repair

arthritis risk

meniscus tear types

patient counseling