Forty-nine of the sixty-five consecutive patients who were more than
forty years old when medial meniscectomy was performed returned for
follow-up evaluation one to twelve years postoperatively. Pain was present
in 62.2 per cent of the patients with so-called degenerative tears and in
75 per cent of those with so-called traumatic tears. The medial joint space
was significantly thinner in the patients with degenerative tears than in
those with traumatic tears. The roentgenographic findings of osteoarthritis
were significantly more severe on the side operated on. The femorotibial
angle was always in relatively more varus angulation on the involved side
(mean, 5.3 degrees) than on the uninvolved side.