Evaluation of Joint Space Width and Narrowing After Isolated Partial Medial Meniscectomy for Degenerative Medial Meniscus Tears

Background: Few studies have evaluated the effect of existing articular cartilage damage and sex on joint space measurements after isolated degenerative medial meniscus tears. Purpose: To determine what factors affected joint space width and narrowing in patients after removal of isolated degenerative medial meniscus tears. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 62 patients (15 women and 47 men) with all ligaments intact, no previous surgery to either knee, and an isolated degenerative medial meniscus tear removed in 1 knee were examined. The mean age at examination was 58.2 years at a mean follow-up of 9.4 years (range, 4-20 years). Subjective results were obtained with the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) knee survey. Radiographs were taken using 45 degrees weightbearing posteroanterior views. Midpoint and perceived minimum joint space width of the medial and lateral compartments of both knees were measured to the nearest 0.1 mm by 2 observers at different times, and they were blinded as to the previous measurements (Pearson intra- and interclass correlations, >0.93). Joint space narrowing was found by calculating the difference in joint space width between knees. Percentage of normal joint space loss was calculated by dividing joint space narrowing by the joint space width in the contralateral knee. Other factors considered were patient sex and Outerbridge grading of articular cartilage. Results: Women had a mean 1.5 mm less normal joint space width than men in the involved and noninvolved knees (P <.01). Mean joint space narrowing was 0.7 mm for both measurements. The mean +/- standard deviation narrowing was 0.4 +/- 1.2 mm for patients with grade 0-2 damage and 1.1 +/- 1.3 for patients with grade 3-4 damage (P = .04).Five women (33%) and 3 men (6%) had narrowing of >50% of the normal joint space as measured in the noninjured knee (P = .016). The mean IKDC total score was 66.1 points for women, which was statistically significantly lower than the mean of 82.7 points for men (P <.01). Conclusion: Patients undergoing partial medial meniscectomy have greater joint space narrowing and lower subjective scores after surgery if they also have existing Outerbridge grade 3-4 damage. Women have less normal joint space than men, and more women than men experience >50% joint space narrowing after surgery.