All zones arthroscopic meniscal repair - medium term follow-up

Introduction: The menisci are crucial structures of the knee in maintaining function. Meniscal repair has gained importance as meniscectomy causes early arthritis. Arthroscopic repair of meniscus has become the mainstay of management replacing open surgery, because of decreased duration of surgical procedure and better accessibility to the tear location. Methods: This study prospectively evaluated functional outcome in 34 patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair. Tears involving outer (red-red), middle and inner (white-white) zone were included for repair. Complex and degenerative tears were excluded from repair. Follow-up consisted of clinical assessment by using Barrett's criteria and comparison of pre-operative and post-operative Lysholm knee score. In the absence of joint-line tenderness or effusion, and if the McMurray test was negative, it was considered that the repaired meniscus has healed. Results: After a minimum of 1.5 year follow-up, 32/34 of the cases that underwent meniscal repair were asymptomatic for meniscal tears. The mean Lysholm score increased to 95.2 as compared with the preoperative mean value of 61. Arthroscopic meniscal repair was not associated with any neurovascular or other major complications. Conclusion: Stabilizing the meniscal tear by arthroscopy in all three zones appears to be an effective procedure.