Recent research into innovative ways to treat the injured meniscus, such as meniscal replacement with synthetic implants made of polyurethane or collagen or special devices to suture the torn meniscus, has provided orthopaedic surgeons with increased options in the treatment of partial and complete meniscal tears. But, many surgeons in Europe continue to exercise caution when it comes to meniscectomy in their patients to prevent knee problems in the future.
“Take the risk of failure,” René Verdonk, MD, PhD, emeritus former chief of the orthopaedic and traumatology departments at Ghent University Hospital, in Ghent, Belgium, said. “The bigger the tear is, the more you should push the indication and take the risk of failure, because if you remove the meniscus, you are sure to have issues at a later date,” he told to Orthopaedics Today Europe.
Read the full article in the September 2013 issue of the EFORT OTE newsletter
