Saucerization and suture of symptomatic bilateral medial discoid meniscus in a 13 years old male football player: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction Medial discoid meniscus is estimated to occur in 0.06% to 0.3% of the population, being bilateral medial discoid menisci. The current tendency to be very conservative in treating meniscal lesions should be applied to the discoid meniscus, too, so that the cauterization and suture of a torn discoid meniscus are gaining support. Case presentation We present the case of a 13-years-old Caucasian male competitive football player with a diagnosis of bilateral medial discoid menisci. Arthroscopy of the left symptomatic knee found an incomplete medial discoid meniscus, with an atypical hypertrophic posterior horn and root with a lack of rear tibial attachments. Saucerization to obtain a standard semilunar shape plus outside-in sutures to repair the horizontal tear and stabilize the meniscus’s peripheral rim was performed. The asymptomatic right knee was treated conservatively. After seven months, complete resolution of the symptoms in the left knee and no worsening of symptoms in the right knee was reported. Conclusion Bilateral discoid medial meniscus is a rare abnormality involving active young patients. The conservative treatment is the preferred option in asymptomatic patients. Sauceriziation and eventual repair represent the suggested surgical treatment in symptomatic cases.