Arthroscopic meniscectomy.

A technique is described for doing arthroscopic meniscectomies using short curved instruments passed through flexible, sealable Teflon sleeves. The goal, with few exceptions, was to achieve en bloc subtotal resection of the posterior two-thirds of the meniscus. The location and character of the lesions found in this series tend to support this pattern of excision. Immediate postoperative morbidity is astonishingly less than that seen with open meniscectomy. Economic losses, including medical costs and time off work, were significantly less, and short term results compare favorably with those of conventional meniscectomy in regard to relief of symptoms and restoration of function.