Proprioception following partial meniscectomy in stable knees

Purpose: To investigate the proprioceptive function of patients with isolated meniscal tears of the knee before and after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.

Methods: One hundred subjects (50 patients who underwent a knee arthroscopy and 50 normal controls) were evaluated using single-leg dynamic postural stabilometry. All participants were assessed clinically and radiologically. Knee outcome scores were obtained for all subjects.

Results: Of the 50 patients arthroscoped, 34 were found to have meniscal tears. Twenty-nine of these patients were reassessed 3 months post-operatively. There was a significant proprioceptive deficit in subjects with meniscal tears when compared to their normal contra-lateral knee (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.001). Partial meniscectomy resulted in a significant improvement in knee outcome scores but not proprioception measurements (n.s.).

Conclusion: Patients with isolated meniscal tears were found to have a significant proprioceptive deficit which persisted following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy despite an otherwise successful clinical outcome.