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. 2019 Aug 19;34(32):e206.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e206.

National Trends of Meniscectomy and Meniscus Repair in Korea

Kyu Sung Chung  1 , Jeong Ku Ha  2 , Yoon Seok Kim  1 , Jung Hoon Kim  3 , Ho Jong Ra  4 , Doo Hwan Kong  1 , Pei Wei Wang  1 , Choong Hyeok Choi  5 , Jin Goo Kim  6
Affiliations

National Trends of Meniscectomy and Meniscus Repair in Korea

Kyu Sung Chung et al. J Korean Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Meniscus surgeries are frequently performed in orthopaedics. However, their current status is not well known in many countries, including Korea. This study aimed to investigate the national trends of meniscus surgery in Korea.

Methods: Information from the national database was acquired through the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2010 to 2017. All cases coded as meniscectomy or meniscus repair were included. The total number and incidence of cases of meniscus surgery per 100,000 persons were determined, and the results were stratified by age and gender. The meniscus repair ratio for the total number of meniscus surgeries was evaluated.

Results: The total number and incidence of meniscectomy cases were 65,752 and 137, respectively, in 2010, which increased to 74,088 and 154, respectively, in 2017. The number of meniscectomies increased by 12.67% in 8 years. The total number and incidence of meniscus repair cases were 9,055 and 18, respectively, in 2010, which increased to 14,947 and 31 in 2017. The number of meniscus repairs increased by 65.04%. The meniscus repair ratio was 12.1% in 2010, which increased to 16.8% in 2017. The highest peak was noted for patients who underwent meniscus surgeries in their 50s and 60s. Meniscectomy was performed more frequently in women (57%) than in men (43%), whereas repair was performed more frequently in men (54%) than in women (46%) over the study period.

Conclusion: The total number and incidence of meniscus surgeries increased from 2010 to 2017; the number and incidence of meniscus repair procedures increased more rapidly than those of meniscectomy, with the peak treatment age for both surgeries being in the 50s and 60s. The current study will contribute to understanding the epidemiology of meniscus surgery, its prevention, and cost-saving measures in Korea.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Incidence; Meniscectomy; Meniscus; Meniscus Repair.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Total number and incidence per 100,000 person-years of meniscectomy and meniscus repair cases per year in Korea. (A) Total number of cases, (B) Incidence per 100,000 person-years of cases.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Incidence per 100,000 person-years of meniscectomy or meniscus repair cases per year stratified by gender. (A) Meniscectomy cases, (B) Meniscus repair cases.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Incidence per 100,000 person-years of meniscectomy or meniscus repair cases per year stratified by age. (A) Meniscectomy cases (B) Meniscus repair cases.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Repair ratio in meniscus surgeries per year stratified by gender or age. (A) Gender, (B) Age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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