A Neglected Bucket-Handle Tear of Lateral Meniscus for 20 Years: Report of a Case

We present a rare case of 47-year-old male patient suffering from chronic bucket-handle tear of lateral meniscus for 20 years with minimal symptoms of clicking sound and pain in full extension of left knee. The patient was able to tolerate the symptoms and resumed athletic strenuous activities despite having a chronic displaced bucket-handle flap. These symptoms persisted and were aggravated in recent one year, so he underwent arthroscopy and bucket-handle meniscal fragment was found impinged in extended knee and only mild degeneration of patello-femoral joint. We performed partial meniscectomy, and previous symptoms are relieved. It gives us a new idea that conservative treatment is adequate in bucket-handle meniscal tear if patients can tolerate the symptoms.