Positive outcomes seen at long-term follow-up after meniscal repair

SEATTLE — Arthroscopic meniscal repair was found to have a high probability of positive outcomes at long-term follow-up, according to a presenter here.

“Most patients did not have subsequent surgery until 5 years or greater following their initial repair,” Karen K. Briggs, MPH, MBA, said during her presentation at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting.

In the study, researchers analyzed 206 patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair. Repair failure was defined by subsequent meniscal surgery (either re-repair or meiscectomy) or if the knee was converted to total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Demographic data, SF12 physical component score and the mental component score, Lysholm score, WOMAC score, IKDC score, Tegner activity scale and patient satisfaction (1-10 scale) were all recorded. Average follow-up was approximately 14 years.

Overall, 64 knees were classified as failures (47 meniscectomies, 14 menicsal re-repairs, three TKAs). Average SF-12 physical component score was 54, and average mental component score was 54. The average Lysholm value at final follow-up was 86, average WOMAC value was 6 and the average IKDC value was 73, according to Briggs. Median Tegner activity scale value was 6, and median patient satisfaction score was 9.

Older patients did not experience an increase in failure of repair. —by Christian Ingram

Reference:

Steadman JR. Paper #45. Presented at: American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting; July 10-13, 2014; Seattle.

Disclosure: The authors received research support from Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, Ossur and Siemens.