Progression of stable juvenile osteochondritis dissecans after 10 years of meniscectomy of the discoid lateral meniscus.

Abstract

Ten years after a meniscectomy of discoid lateral meniscus, a 19-year-old man presented a loose body in his right knee with limited range of motion. At the time of meniscectomy, a stable osteochondritis dissecans in the lateral femoral condyle with a T2 high area in MRI was recognized; however, the lesion was left without surgical treatment. We performed fixation of a fragment and osteochondral grafting. Surgical treatment for stable juvenile osteochondritis dissecans still remains controversial; however, drilling will help to increase the healing potential and to prevent lesion progression, especially after meniscectomy that alters the mechanical stress on immature osteochondral structures.