What additional knee procedure accompanied the ACL reconstruction?

• A. Total medial meniscectomy
• B. Lateral meniscectomy
• C. Microfracture
• D. Partial medial meniscectomy

Answer: (D)

During ACL reconstruction, surgeons frequently find meniscal tears and address them in the same session. If the tear is in the medial meniscus and is best treated by removing only the damaged portion, a partial medial meniscectomy is performed. This preserves as much of the healthy meniscus as possible, maintaining its cushioning and stabilizing role while removing the torn segment that cannot be repaired.

Removing the entire medial meniscus would unnecessarily strip away tissue and increase the risk of later joint degeneration, so a full meniscectomy is avoided when a partial approach is feasible. Lateral meniscectomy would only be pursued if there is a tear in the lateral meniscus, which isn’t the typical accompanying finding with an ACL injury. Microfracture targets cartilage defects, not meniscal tears, so it wouldn’t be the standard add-on to ACL reconstruction.