Abstract
The menisci (Fig. 3.1) are two crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structures that are found within each knee between the femoral condyles and the tibial plateau. Earlier, they were considered as functionless remnants of a leg muscle [1]. In 1942, Murray [2] stated that “when the knee joint is opened on the anterior aspect and the suspected cartilage appears normal, its removal can be undertaken with confidence if the diagnosis of a posterior tear has been arrived at clinically prior to the operation. A far too common error is shown in the incomplete removal of the injured meniscus.” Currently the menisci are critical to the function of the knee joint and have important roles in providing shock absorption, stability and joint lubrication.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Sutton JB. Ligaments: their nature and morphology. London: M. K. Lewis; 1987.
Mc Murray TP. The semi lunar cartilages. Br J Surg. 1942;29:407–14.
Gardner E, O’Rahilly R. The early development of the knee joint in staged human embryos. J Anat. 1968;102:289–99.
Mc Dermott LJ. Development of the human knee joint. Arch Surg. 1943;46:705.
Whillis J. The development of the synovial joint. J Anat (Lond). 1940;74:277–83.
Smillie IS. The congenital discoid meniscus. J Bone Joint Surg. 1948;30-B:671.
Nathan PA, Cole SC. Discoid meniscus. A clinical and pathologic study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1969;64:107–13.
Young RB. The external semilunar cartilage as a complete disc. In: Cleland J, Macke JY, Young RB, editors. Memoirs and memoranda in anatomy. London: Williams and Norgate; 1889.
Watanabe M, Takeda S, Ikeuchi H. Atlas of arthroscopy. Tokyo: Igaku-Shoin; 1978. p. 88.
Monllau JC, Leon A, Cugat R, Ballester J. The innervation of the human meniscus. Arthroscopy. 1998;14:502–4.
Good CR, Green DW, Griffith MH, Valen AW, Widmann RF, Rodeo SA. Arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic discoid meniscus in children: classification, technique, and results. Arthroscopy. 2007;23:157–63.
Clark CR, Ogden JA. Development of the menisci of the human knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1983;65:538–47.
Herwig J, Egner E, Buddecke E. Chemical changes of human knee joint menisci in various stages of degeneration. Ann Rheum Dis. 1984;43:635–40.
Eyre DR, Wu JJ. Collagen of fibrocartilage: a distinctive molecular phenotype in bovine meniscus. FEBS Lett. 1983;158:265–70.
Bullough PG, Munuera L, Murphy J, et al. The strength of the menisci of the knee as it relates to their fine structure. J Bone Joint Surg. 1970;52B:564–7.
Fithian DC, Kelly MA, Mow VC. Material properties and structure function relationships in the menisci. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990;252:19–31.
Renstrom P, Johnson RJ. Anatomy and biomechanics of the menisci. Clin Sports Med. 1990;9:523.
Rath E, Richmond JC. The menisci: basic science and advances in treatment. Br J Sports Med. 2000;34(4):252–7.
Arnoczky SP, Warren RF. Microvasculature of the human meniscus. Am J Sports Med. 1982;10(2):90–5.
King D. The function of the semilunar cartilages. J Bone Joint Surg. 1936;18-B:1069–76.
Fukubayashi T, Kurosawa H. The contact area and pressure distribution patter of the knee. A study of normal and osteoarthritic knee joints. Acta Orthop Scand. 1980;51:871–9.
Walker PS, Erkman MJ. The role of the menisci in force transmission across the knee. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1975;109:184–92.
Johnson DL, Swenson TM, Livesay MS. Insertion site anatomy of the human menisci: gross, arthroscopic and topographical anatomy as a basis for meniscal transplantation. Arthroscopy. 1995;11:386.
Last RJ. Some anatomical details of the knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1948;30:683.
Last RJ. The popliteus muscle and the lateral meniscus. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1950;32:93.
Dickason JM, Del Pizzo W, Blazina ME. A series of 10 discoid medial menisci. Clin Orthop. 1992;168:75.
Schonholtz GJ, Koenig TM, Prince A. Bilateral discoid medial menisci: a case report and literature review. Arthroscopy. 1993;9:315.
Dickhaut SC, DeLee JC. The discoid lateral meniscus syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1982;64:1068.
Ikeuchi H. Arthroscopic treatment of the discoid lateral meniscus: technique and long term results. Clin Orthop. 1983;176:225.
Washington III ER, Root L, Liener UC. Discoid lateral meniscus in children: long term follow up after excision. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1995;77:1357.
Nielse AB, Yde J. Epidemiology of acute knee injuries: a prospective hospital investigation. J Trauma. 1991;31:1644–8.
Hede A, Jensen DB, Blyme P. Epidemiology of meniscal lesions in the knee: 1215 open operations in Copenhagen 1982–84. Acta Orthop Scand. 1990;61:435–7.
Drosos GI, Pozo JL. The causes and mechanisms of meniscal injuries in the sporting and non sporting environment in an unselected population. Knee. 2004;11:143–9.
Poehling GG, Ruch DS, Chabon SJ. The landscape of meniscal injuries. Clin Sports Med. 1990;9:539–49.
Hegedus EJ, Cook C, Hasselblad V. Physical examination tests assessing a torn meniscus in the knee: a systematic review with meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2007;37:541–50.
Meserve BB, Cleland JA, Boucher TR. A meta analysis examining clinical test utilities of assessing meniscal injury. Clin Rehabil. 2008;22:143–61.
Terry GC, Tagert BE, Young MJ. Reliability of the clinical assessment in predicting the cause of internal derangements of the knee. Arthroscopy. 1995;11:568–76.
Fu F. Master techniques in orthopaedic surgery; sports medicine. 3rd ed. Lippincott William Wilkins; Philadelphia, USA. 2010.
Cooper DE, Arnoczky SP, Warren RF. Meniscal repair. Clin Sports Med. 1991;10(3):529–48.
Anderson AF, et al. Interobserver Reliability of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) Classification of Meniscal Tears. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(5):926–32.
Guermazi A, et al. Medial posterior meniscal root tears are associated with development or worsening of medial tibiofemoral cartilage damage: the multicenter osteoarthritis study. Radiology. 2013;268(3):814–21.
LaPrade CM, James EW, Cram TR, et al. Meniscal root tears: a classification system based on tear morphology. Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(2):363–9.
LaPrade CM, Foad A, Smith SD, et al. Biomechanical consequences of a nonanatomic posterior medial meniscal root repair. Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(4):912–20.
Papalia R, Vasta S, Franceschi F, et al. Meniscal root tears: from basic science to ultimate surgery. Br Med Bull. 2013;106:91–115.
Fairbank TJ. Knee joint changes after meniscectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1948;30:664–70.
Baratz ME, Fu F, Mengato R. Meniscal tears: the effect of meniscectomy and of repair on intraarticulaar contact areas and stress in the human knee: a preliminary report. Am J Sports Med. 1986;14:270–5.
Tapper EM, Hoover NW. Late results after menisectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1969;51:517–26.
Hsieh HH, Walker PS. Stabilizing mechanisms of the loaded and unloaded knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1976;58:87–93.
Levy MI, Torzilli PA, Warren RF. The effect of medial meniscectomy on anterior-posterior motion of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1982;64:883–8.
Hollis JM, Pearsall AW, Niciforos PG. Change in meniscal strain with anterior cruciate ligament injury and after reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2000;28:700–4.
Insall JN, Scott WN. Surgery of the knee. 4th ed. Churchill Livingstone. Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA. 2006.
McMurray TP. The semilunar cartilages. Br J Surg. 1942;29:407–14.
Fairbanks TJ. Knee joint changes after menisectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1948;30:664–70.
Kruger-Franke M, Siebert CH, Kugler A, et al. Late results after arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1999;7:81–4.
Johnson RJ, Kettelkamp DB, Clark W, Leaverton P. Factors affecting late results after menisectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1974;56:719–29.
Jareguito JW, Elliot JS, Leitner T, et al. The effects of partial lateral menisectomy in an otherwise normal knee: a retrospective review of functional, clinical and radiographic results. Arthroscopy. 1995;11:29–36.
Burks RT, Metcalf MH, Metcalf RW. Fifteen year follow up of arthroscopic partial menisectomy. Arthroscopy. 1997;13:673–9.
Dehaven KE. Decision making factors in the treatment of meniscus lesions. Clin Orthop. 1990;252:49–54.
Newman AP, Daniels AU, Burks RT. Principles and decision making in meniscal surgery. Arthroscopy. 1993;9:33–51.
Barber FA. Meniscus repair: results of an arthroscopic technique. Arthroscopy. 1987;3:25–30.
Jorgensen U, Sonne-Holm S, Lauridsen F, et al. Long term follow up of menisectomy in atheletes. A prospective longitudinal study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1987;69(1):80–3.
Horibe S, Shino K, Nakata K, et al. Second look arthroscopy after meniscal repair: a review of 132 menisci repaired by an arthroscopic inside out technique. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1995;77:245–9.
Rubman MH, Noyes FR, Barber-Westin SD. Arthroscopic repair of meniscal tears that extend into the avascular zone. A review of 198 single and complex tears. Am J Sports Med. 1999;26:87–95.
Ranalletta M, Rossi W, Paterno M, et al. An arthroscopic study in anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees. Arthroscopy. 2007;23(3):275–7.
Gill SS, Diduch DR. Outcomes after meniscal repair using the meniscus arrow in knees undergoing concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 2002;18:569–77.
Lozano J, Ma C, Cannon W. All inside meniscal repair: a systematic review. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2006;455:134–41.
Beasley L, Armfield RD, West RV, et al. Medial meniscus root tears: an unsolved problem- demographic, radiographic and arthroscopic findings. Pittsburgh Orthop J. 2005;16:155.
Habata T, Uematsu K, Hattori K, et al. Clinical features of the posterior horn tear in the medial meniscus. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2004;124:642–5.
Milachowski KA, Weismeier K, Wirth CJ. Homologous meniscal transplantation. Experimental and clinical results. Int Orthop. 1989;13:1–9.
Aglietti P, Buzzi R, Bassi PB. Arthroscopic partial menisectomy in the anterior cruciate ligament deficient patient. Am J Sports Med. 1988;16:597–602.
Rijk PC. Meniscal allograft transplantation – part I : background, results, graft selection and preservation, and surgical considerations. Arthroscopy. 2004;20:728–43.
Siegel MG, Robert CS. Meniscal allografts. Clin Sports Med. 1993;12:59–80.
Brown KL, Cruess RL. Bone and cartilage transplantation in orthopaedic surgery. A review. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1982;64:270–9.
Jackson DW, Windler GE, Simon TM. Intraarticular reaction associated with the use of freeze-dried, ethylene oxide-sterilized bone-patella tendon-bone allografts in the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. Am J Sports Med. 1990;18:1–11.
Hamlet W, Liu SH, Yang R. Destruction of a cryopreserved meniscal allograft: a case for acute rejection. Arthroscopy. 1997;13:517–21.
Khoury MA, Goldberg VM, Stevenson S. Demonstration of HLA and ABH antigens in fresh and frozen human menisci by immunohistochemistry. J Orthop Res. 1994;12:751–7.
Bos GD, Goldberg VM, Zika JM, Heiple KG, Powell AE. Immune responses of rats to frozen bone allografts. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1983;65:239–46.
Stevenson S. The immune response to osteochondral allografts in dogs. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1987;69:573–82.
Chen MI, Branch TP, Hutton WC. Is it important to secure the horns during lateral meniscal transplantation? A cadaveric study. Arthroscopy. 1996;12:174–81.
Paletta Jr GA, Manning T, Snell E, Parker R, Bergfeld J. The effect of allograft meniscal replacement on intraarticular contact area and pressures in the human knee: a biomechanical study. Am J Sports Med. 1997;25:692–8.
Alhalki MM, Howell SM, Hull ML. How three methods for fixing a medial meniscal autograft affect tibial contact mechanics. Am J Sports Med. 1999;27:320–8.
Verdonk R, Kohn D. Harvest and conservation of meniscal allografts. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1999;9:158–9.
Wilcox TR, Goble EM, Doucette SA. Goble technique of meniscus transplantation. Am J Knee Surg. 1996;9:37–42.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 ISAKOS
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rajgopal, A., Vasdev, A. (2016). Meniscus Surgery. In: Parker, D. (eds) Management of Knee Osteoarthritis in the Younger, Active Patient. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48530-9_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48530-9_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-48528-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-48530-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)