Is radiofrequency use in arthroscopic treatment of isolated medial meniscus horizontal cleavage tears more effective than mechanical debridement in young adults?

Introduction/Objective Arthroscopic mechanical hand tools, motorized shavers, and bipolar radiofrequency are used in arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate efficacy of radiofrequency on early clinical outcomes in patients who underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy with horizontal cleavage tear and without additional intraarticular knee pathology. Methods A total of 37 patients complied with the study criteria. Patients were divided into two groups according to usage of bipolar radiofrequency. Patients were evaluated by using visual analog scale (VAS) and Tegner Lysholm knee scores at the end of the first year follow-up. Results Twenty-two patients comprised the shaver-using group. Preoperative mean VAS score was 7.9 ? 0.8, and the Tegner Lysholm knee score was 49.6 ? 9.6. Fifteen patients comprised the bipolar radiofrequency-using group. Preoperative VAS score was 7.8 ? 0.9, and the Tegner Lysholm knee score was 52.2 ? 10.7. The mean VAS score was 1.2 ? 0.9, and the mean Tegner Lysholm knee score was 89.5 ? 8.1 in shaver used group at last follow-up. At the last postoperative follow-up, the mean VAS score was 1.1 ? 1, and the Tegner Lysholm knee score was 88.8 ? 7.3 in the bipolar radiofrequency-using group. No statistically significant differences between the VAS and Tegner Lysholm knee scores of the preoperative and postoperative controls of the two groups were observed (p?0.05). Conclusion Radiofrequency use has no effect on early clinical outcomes in the arthroscopic treatment of isolated medial meniscus posterior horn horizontal cleavage tears; we do not recommend its use.