Three decades ago classical meniscectomy was a very common orthopedic procedure, the most frequently performed operation on the knee joint. However, evidence in the study of degenerative joint disease in meniscectomised patients has led to a more conservative trend in meniscal surgery. The widespread use of arthroscopic methods now permits thorough meniscal suture procedures utilizing the many specialized devices available today. Modern orthopedic surgery, recognizing the importance of the menisci to knee stability and load resistance, uses transplantation procedures and/or regenerative methods as valuable tools for improving functionality of the joint and the prevention of arthritis. However, only very carefully selected patients with menisci deficient knees are suitable for meniscal transplantation or synthetic substitutes. Criteria related to circumstances of previous meniscectomy, age – status of the knee joint cartilage, knee stability and axis – must be closely observed and used to qualify candidates for surgery. Short term clinical outcomes are favorable, good medium-term outcomes are being observed and organized into a data base, as well as data for the prevention of knee joint cartilage degeneration. These factors, taken together, promise future development of the procedures which will be the objects of surgeons’ interest.

Три десятилетия назад менискэктомия была часто практикуемой операцией на коленном суставе. Мировой анализ результатов у этих больных показал частое развитие у них явлений артроза, что послужило основанием для пересмотра показаний к менискэктомии. Артроскопическая техника позволила осуществлять сшивание менисков, сохраняя их. У больных, которым уже была проведена менискэктомия, начали осуществлять трансплантацию мениска или протезирование его синтетическим матриксом.