Predictive factors for developing osteochondritis dissecans after surgery for discoid lateral meniscus are younger age and shorter meniscal width.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the predictive factors for postoperative osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in juvenile and adolescent knees with discoid lateral meniscus (DLM). METHODS: In total, 242 patients with symptomatic DLM who underwent surgery were identified. Inclusion criteria were set as follows: (1) age ≤ 17 years with an open growth plate, (2) follow-up magnetic resonance imaging, and (3) absence of preoperative OCD. Consequently, 52 patients were retrospectively investigated. Average age during surgery, body mass index (BMI), and follow-up duration were 12 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 11-13], 19.2 kg/m2 (95% CI 18.4-20.1), and 27.3 months (95% CI 20.9-33.7), respectively. Age, sex, sports activities, BMI, symptomatic OCD in other joints, postoperative rehabilitation, preoperative shift of DLM by Ahn's classification, surgical procedures (saucerization alone or with stabilization, and subtotal meniscectomy), and postoperative meniscal width were analyzed as possible predictive factors. RESULTS: Postoperatively, 42 patients without OCD and 10 with OCD were observed. In univariate analysis, younger age [odds ratio (OR) 1.5; p = 0.003], subtotal meniscectomy (OR 6.3; p = 0.027), and shorter meniscal width (OR 2.7; p = 0.005) were predictive factors for postoperative OCD. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that younger age (OR 1.6; p = 0.009) and shorter meniscal width (OR 1.5; p = 0.003) were predictive factors. CONCLUSIONS: To prevent postoperative OCD after DLM surgeries, achieving stabilization with adequate meniscal width is necessary for juvenile knees. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.