One hundred and fifty-four knees with 161 torn menisci were examined
with the arthroscope immediately before meniscectomy. The incidence of
early degenerative arthritis (chondromalacia) of the femoral condyle was
correlated with the age of the patient, the interval between injury and
surgery, and the type of meniscal lesion. The incidence of condylar
chondromalacia was significantly higher in patients over the age of thirty
(p less than 0.01) and in those with a history longer than three months (p
less than 0.05). Posterior horn tears were associated with the highest
incidence of degenerative changes, but were also associated with a longer
history and with older patients. Attention is drawn to the adverse effect
of damaged menisci on condylar articular cartilage, and a plea is made for
early diagnosis and removal of damaged menisci.