Arthroscopic Meniscectomy and Meniscoplasty for a Torn Discoid Medial Meniscus: Case Report, Surgical Technique, and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Normal menisci of the knee are semilunar structures. Sometimes, a meniscus may be found to be thickened and disc like and is called a discoid meniscus. Such a discoid variant is usually found in the lateral meniscus. Its occurrence in the medial meniscus is extremely rare.

Case report: We report a case of an 18-year-old female, who presented to us with knee pain and was found to have a discoid medial meniscus with a tear. We operated on her arthroscopically and performed meniscectomy and meniscoplasty. Postoperatively, the patient was free of her knee pain.

Conclusion: Discoid medial meniscus is a rare phenomenon which can present as a cause of knee pain. If discoid meniscus is symptomatic, the management includes arthroscopic meniscectomy and meniscoplasty.

Keywords: Meniscoplasty; arthroscopic meniscectomy; discoid medial meniscus.

Figure 1

Radiograph of the knees showing no abnormality.

Figure 2

Magnetic resonance imaging showing continuity between the anterior and posterior horns on 4 consecutive 5 mm sagittal cuts.

Figure 3

Magnetic resonance imaging showing discoid medial meniscus in coronal cuts.

Figure 4

Discoid medial meniscus as seen at arthroscopy.

Figure 5

Anterior horn of discoid medial meniscus (#) seen to be continuous with the anterior cruciate ligament (*).

Figure 6

The lateral edge of discoid medial meniscus seen in the intercondylar region showing no evidence of tear.

Figure 7

The horizontal interstitial tear as seen after resecting the lateral edge in the intercondylar region.

Figure 8

Peripheral stable rim obtained after meniscoplasty.