EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES IN TOTAL OR PARTIAL MENISCUS RESECTION

Menisectomies were performed on 26 rabbits. The total extirpation of the meniscus with removal of the cambium-stratum caused a severe arthrosis deformans at the operated site of the knee-joint. After the partial resection in all cases resulted a regeneration, arising from the cambium-stratum and being demonstrable nearly 6 months post operationem by histological method. The joints remained roentgenologically within an observation-time of 20 months without reactions; only by autopsy there were noticed unimported changes in the cartilage at the joint-surface of the tibia after the resection of larger planes. It seems recommendable to perform the resection of the meniscus with adolescents and juvenils as extensive as necessary, but as small as possible. © 1969 J. F. Bergmann.