Deterioration of the femoral articular surface after meniscal repair evaluated by second-look arthroscopy: comparison with partial meniscectomy

To evaluate whether meniscal repair can protect the cartilage deterioration, changes in articular cartilage of the involved compartment were evaluated by reviewing the videotapes recorded at the time of operations (33 meniscal repairs, 18 meniscectomies) and second-look arthroscopies. Meniscal repairs gave marginally better results than meniscectomies but the articular cartilage was often deteriorated in cases that had the incompletely healed meniscus or the unhealed meniscus. Although completely healed menisci restore the meniscal function and protect the articular damage, unsuccessful meniscal healings sometimes provoke degeneration of the articular cartilage.