Characteristics of Patients with Discoid Medial Meniscus and Surgical Outcomes: A Multi-center Study in South Korea

Characteristics of Patients with Discoid Medial Meniscus and Surgical Outcomes: A Multi-center Study in South Korea

Jun-Ho Kim, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Joon Ho Wang, MD, PhD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Jong-Min Kim, MD, PhD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Ki Hyuk Sung, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Sang Hak Lee, MD, PhD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Min Jung, MD, PhD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Kyu Sung Chung, MD, PhD, Prof., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Seong-Hwan Kim, MD,Ph.D, MStat, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Se-Han Jung, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

Kyung-Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Seoul, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF


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Anatomic Location

Anatomic Structure

Diagnosis / Condition

Treatment / Technique


Summary: A Multi-center Study of Distal Medial Meniscus in South Korea


Background

Discoid meniscus is a rare congenital anomaly of the knee. Unlike the discoid lateral meniscus, there is a lack of literature regarding the discoid medial meniscus (DMM) due to its extremely low incidence. Thus, a multi-center study was conducted to report the characteristics of patients with DMM and their clinical results after surgical treatment.

Methods

Between April 2010 and December 2022, a retrospective review was conducted across 8 separate institutions to identify patients with DMM confirmed at arthroscopic surgery. Preoperatively, patients’ demographics, clinical symptoms, and incidence of bilaterality were recorded. Based on the arthroscopic evaluation, patients were categorized as having incomplete or complete DMM. Moreover, the presence or type of meniscal tear and the surgical methods were evaluated. Postoperative clinical outcomes, complications, and failure were assessed.

Results

A total of 25 patients, including 21 males and 4 females with 27 DMMs, were identified. The mean age was 24.3±10.7 years (range, 9-53 years), and the follow-up period was 24.0±26.5 months (range, 2-110 months). Pain (92.6%) and mechanical symptoms (66.7%) were the main symptoms, and the mean duration of symptoms until the operation was 12.7±14.4 months (range, 0.5-60 months). Nine of 12 cases (75.0%) showed DMM at the contra-lateral knee. Ten DMMs were complete (27.0%) and 17 were incomplete (63.0%). Tears were presented in all cases showing horizontal tears with (37.0%) or without flap components (51.9%) and bucket-handle tears (11.1%), and tears were primarily located in posterior horns (88.9%). All 27 knees underwent arthroscopic partial (81.5%) or subtotal (18.5%), and further meniscal repair was required in 3 cases (11.1%). Clinical outcomes were significantly improved after surgery (all, P<.05), and no complications occurred. Failure was reported in 3 cases (11.1%) requiring subsequent surgery due to aggravation of symptoms.

Conclusion

Patients with DMM showed a high rate of bilateral involvement. Unlike discoid lateral meniscus, horizontal tears at posterior horns were common, whereas peripheral rim instability was uncommon, requiring meniscal repair. Clinical outcomes were favorable after the surgical treatment; however, long-term osteoarthritic progression should be cautiously monitored, considering medial compartmental pathology.