ABSTRACT
Patients with posterior medial meniscal detachment, as determined at knee arthroscopy,
were evaluated retrospectively. Mean follow-up was 5.3 years for 8 men and 20 women
(30 knees; mean age, 57 years). Most patients had acute onset of pain with a minor
specific incident. Seventeen patients were obese, 9 were overweight, and 2 were normal.
Eleven of 22 magnetic resonance imaging evaluations detected a tear at the site of
the posterior medial meniscus root. Nine of 16 bone scan evaluations showed moderate
uptake medially. Arthroscopic treatment included partial medial meniscectomy or meniscal
repair. Twelve knees (40%) showed significant progression of arthritis. Of the 7 patients
with severe arthritic knees, 5 have subsequently undergone total knee arthroplasty,
1 is considering total knee arthroplasty, and the other has minimal symptoms. Patients
should be counseled about the clinical course of posterior medial meniscus detachment
and its potential for progressive arthritis in the joint.
