Synthesis

Many authors reported an increasing number of meniscal lesions in children. These young patients typically present with pain and locking knee symptoms. Recent studies showed that meniscal repairs in children are as successful as they are in adults. After failure of a meniscal repair in a child recurrent repair should be encouraged whenever possible in order try to prevent osteoarthritis development in the long-term. Beneath the classical traumatic meniscus lesions-of which roughly 50 % are seen in combination with tears of the anterior cruciate ligament-symptomatic lateral discoid menisci are frequently encountered. This should be the first diagnosis to consider in the presence of a child presenting with a flexum without a history of a traumatic event. Recent reports focused on the frequently encountered absence of a peripheral meniscocapsular fixation and a subsequent instability of the discoid meniscus. The recommended treatment consists in arthroscopic saucerisation and peripheral stabilization.