HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Verapamil-induced hepatotoxicity.

Study Abstract

TO THE EDITOR: The Epitomes, "Important Advances in
Orthopedics," in the October 1993 issue, were exceptionally
well done and balanced.' All the subjects were
thoughtfully written with current information for both
surgeons and nonsurgeons to better treat and counsel their
patients. My congratulations to Dr McMaster, the advisory
board, and all of the authors.
The subject of meniscal repair was particularly
thought provoking.2 Dr Colville's meniscal repair section
was well organized and an excellent review of our current
knowledge of the importance of preserving knee menisci.
He reports 70% to 90% healing on second look after
meniscal repair.
As a physician who has practiced from the "Total
Meniscectomy Years" to the "Meniscal Repair Years," I
am somewhat skeptical of dogma. Ciotta has reported on
40- to 60-year-old patients with anterior cruciate ligament
injuries treated nonoperatively doing better than patients
with reconstructed ligaments.3 We reported a series of 48
recreational athletes with anterior cruciate ligament injuries
treated without reconstruction.4 With an average of
five years' follow-up, only 15 (30%) required arthroscopic
meniscectomy. One would expect a larger number
of meniscus tears in these patients.5
Could some of these patients be healing their meniscal
tears without surgical intervention? Do you think a delayed
look at three to six months would reveal healing on
these patients' meniscal tears?