Arthroscopic meniscectomy

Arthroscopic meniscectomy on the knee is minimally invasive surgery (without the need for large incisions) to remove the meniscus or the mesisci. It can be completely or partially removed. The menisci are two crescent-shaped pads of fibrocartilage between the bones of the lower leg (tibia) and the thigh (femur). They stabilise the knee, distribute the body weight and act as a shock absorber. Menisci can be damaged e.g. by mechanical overload or degeneration. Damaged menisci cause pain in the knee. The Swiss Atlas of Healthcare contains analyses on the frequency of arthroscopic meniscectomies overall and separate analyses on inpatient and outpatient settings.