Editorial Commentary: Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy Is Not a First-Line Treatment for Degenerative Meniscus Tear: To Meniscectomize or Not to Meniscectomize?

Abstract

A painful knee with a degenerative meniscal tear is a quite common problem in the middle-aged patient. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy is too often used to alleviate pain and seems to work in the short-term. However, arthroscopic partial meniscectomy does not guarantee success, particularly in the long run, particularly in patients with greater grades of osteoarthritis, patients who are older than 60 years, female patients, patients with malalignment, and patients having lateral meniscectomy. There is a need for better science to recommend arthroscopic meniscectomy in those cases.