Background

Although numerous studies reported clinical outcomes following surgical treatment for discoid lateral meniscus (DLM), there was a dearth of knowledge regarding return to play sports after arthroscopic management for DLM. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and return to sports after arthroscopic saucerization with repair or centralization for treating DLM.
Study Design: Retrospective cohort study; Level of evidence,3

Methods

Between 2016 and 2018, 15 patients (9 men and 6 women, 17 knees) who underwent arthroscopic management for DLM and met inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. The mean age at the time of surgery was 17.3 years (range, 8 to 49 years), and the mean follow-up period was 26.5 months (range, 12 to 60 months). Inclusion criteria was the patients who participate into sports activity preoperatively, and followed at least 18 months. Of these patients, isolated arthroscopic saucerization were performed to 4 cases and combined arthroscopic saucerization and meniscal preservation surgery (repair and/or centralization) were performed to 13 cases.
Clinical outcomes were evaluated using International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Lysholm score preoperatively and at the final follow-up (F/U). The University of California-Los Angeles Activity Scale (UCLA-AS) score were also obtained for the assessment of sports-related activity. We also evaluated the rate and required time of return to play sports.

Results

The means of IKDC score, KOOS score, Lysholm score and UCLA score significantly improved from preoperatively to the final-follow up. (IKDC: pre-op 49.2 vs final F/U 95.2, p <0.05, KOOS: pre-op 71.8 vs final F/U 96.5, p <0.05, Lysholm: pre-op 64.9 vs final F/U 95.7, p <0.05, UCLA: pre-op 6.6 vs final F/U 9.2, p <0.05). All patients were able to return to play sports at the mean of 7.3 months (5 to 18 months) after surgery.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic LM saucerization with repair or centralization could provide favorable clinical outcome and high rate of return to play sports in active patients with DLM.