Abstract: Objective To investigate the short-term efficacy of arthroscopic suture and partial meniscectomy in the treatment of chronic Ⅲ degree meniscus injury. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 67 patients with chronic knee meniscus Ⅲ degree injury admitted to the Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital from June 2019 to June 2021, who were divided into suture group (n=30) and partial meniscectomy group (n=37) according to different treatment ways, and the suture group was treated with arthroscopic meniscus suture, and the partial meniscectomy group was treated with arthroscopic partial resection of the knee meniscus. The Lysholm score, IKDC score, and VAS score of the two groups were recorded before operation and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after operation and last follow-up, and the excellent and good rate of knee joint function at last follow-up of the two groups was evaluated. Results All patients received at least 6 months, with an average of (13.51±4.32) months. At 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and the last follow-up, the Lysholm scores of the suture group were better than those of the partial resection group, and IKDC scores were better than partial nephrectomy group, all the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). At 1 month and 3 months after operation, VAS scores in the suture group were lower than those in the partial resection group, all the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There were no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups at 6 months after operation or at the last follow-up (P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the Lysholm scores of the two groups were better than those before operation and IKDC scores were better than those of preoperative, and VAS scores were better than those of preoperative, all the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the excellent and good rate of the suture group was higher than that of the Partial meniscectomy group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion Both arthroscopic meniscus suture and partial meniscectomy can effectively treat chronic Ⅲ degree meniscus injury of the knee joint, and the short-term clinical effect were better after meniscus suture.

Key words: chronic meniscus injury, meniscal suture, partial meniscectomy, lysholm score, IKDC score