Meniscectomy and chondromalacia of the femoral condyle.

One hundred and fifty-four knees with 161 torn menisci were examined with the arthroscope immediately before meniscectomy. The incidence of early degenerative arthritis (chondromalacia) of the femoral condyle was correlated with the age of the patient, the interval between injury and surgery, and the type of meniscal lesion. The incidence of condylar chondromalacia was significantly higher in patients over the age of thirty (p less than 0.01) and in those with a history longer than three months (p less than 0.05). Posterior horn tears were associated with the highest incidence of degenerative changes, but were also associated with a longer history and with older patients. Attention is drawn to the adverse effect of damaged menisci on condylar articular cartilage, and a plea is made for early diagnosis and removal of damaged menisci.