By Kristine Houck
PRAGUE — Meniscus preservation in surgery is the critical first step in cartilage repair, according to a presenter at the 16th EFORT Congress, here.
“Meniscus and cartilage are an eternal couple because they live together and hopefully for very long time. They do affect each other,” Henning Madry, MD, said. “We have a very strong association between the status of cartilage and meniscal lesions.”
Madry said cartilage and meniscal lesions do affect one another, and orthopedic surgeons see this in the rate of osteoarthritis following meniscectomy. He said large cartilage defects may induce meniscal lesions.
Arthroscopic meniscal repair offers osteoarthritis prophylaxis. Preservation of the meniscus is key, and Madry advised orthopedic surgeons to remember meniscal integrity.
