Abstract des Autors

Meniscal injury is the most common knee injury and the meniscus plays an important role in the protection of the knee against mechanical, degenerative damage. Therefore it is important to find good therapeutical methods for the treatment of meniscal injuries and consequently this is an area of constant research. In general we can distinguish three different treating methods, which are meniscectomy, meniscal repair and meniscal transplantation. This first article in a series of two first of all offers a description of structure and function of the meniscus, followed by a review of current knowledge of meniscectomy; techniques, consequences and different forms (total vs. partial) of meniscectomy are discussed. In a second, additional article, that will be published in the next edition of 'Geneeskunde en Sport', meniscus reconstruction and transplantation will be the subject. Verf.-Referat