Arthroscopic Meniscectomy in Bucket Handle Tear of the Meniscus

Shin, Dong Min; Ha, Sang Ho; Jeon, Yong Hyun

Abstract

Recently, the frequency of meniscal injury of knee has been increasing due to increase of sports activities. It has been known that bucket handle tear is the most common type of the entire injuries of the meniscus. We found 127 cases of meniscal tears and experienced 42 cases of bucket handle tears in the arthroscopic findings from Jan. 1991 to April 1994 in our hospital. We analysed 31 cases which were followed up for at least 1 year. The purpose of this study is to analyse the locking history and frequency, to discuss the several types of bucket handle tear in arthroscopic view, to introduce three portal techniques using posteormedial or posterolateral portal to resect the meniscus, and to analyse our clinical results. So we concluded as follows. 1. Among the 31 cases, 23 cases(74%) had an episode of locking. 2. We found many different types of bucket handle tears in arthroscopic view and the most common type was complete tear in a classic type(11 cases). 3. We were able to resect the meniscal fragment very easily using posteromedial or posterolateral portal. 4. We obtained satisfactory results in 24 cases(77%).