This study found that 55% of patients report mechanical knee symptoms (catching/ locking) and 47% report not being able to fully extend the knee before arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM).

However, this reporting frequency did not differ between patients with and without meniscal tears seen on arthroscopy. The authors warn that the presence of mechanical symptoms may not necessary be attributable to the meniscal tear, even if seen in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).