Menisci have a role in optimal knee function. Meniscal preservation in younger active individuals presenting with symptomatic meniscal disease is important. The success of meniscal repair depends on appropriate meniscal bed preparation and the surgical technique. Patients and methods A prospective study of 20 cases of post-traumatic meniscal tear was conducted during the period between March 2012 and December 2013. All cases were subjected to arthroscopic evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and ensure they fulfilled the criteria for repair on the basis of site, size, description, and associated injury of the tear. The inclusion criteria were vertical longitudinal tear from 1 to 3 cm in length in the red–red or red–white zone. The exclusion criteria were patient age older than 45 years, white–white zone tear, radial tear, and complex degenerative meniscal tear. The Lysholm score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective and objective knee scores were used preoperatively and postoperatively for presentation of overall results. All cases were treated by means of the all-inside arthroscopic repair technique using a FasT-Fix meniscal repair device. Results Twenty patients were followed up for an average of 60 weeks. The mean age of the patients was 20.95 ± 1.60 years; the average suture used was 2.85; 70% had isolated meniscal injury, and 30% had associated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear; the average tear length was 1.91 cm. The mean preoperative and postoperative Lysholm scores were 38.25 and 91.20, respectively. The mean preoperative and postoperative IKDC subjective evaluation results were 31.28 and 91.44, respectively. The preoperative IKDC objective evaluation results revealed 16 (80%) patients with severely abnormal knees (grade D) and four (20%) patients with abnormal knees (grade C). The postoperative IKDC objective evaluation results revealed two (10%) patients with abnormal knees (grade C), three (15%) patients with nearly normal knees (grade B), and 15 (75%) patients with normal knees (grade A). There is better improvement in scores if ACL reconstruction is performed simultaneously with meniscal repair, the procedure is performed for vertical longitudinal tears, the tear is in the ‘red–red’ zone, and the tear length is less than 21 mm. There were no differences in functional results on the basis of repair of medial meniscus or lateral meniscus, acute or chronic injuries, or age. Conclusion Better outcome of meniscal repair was seen in patients with vertical longitudinal tear in the red–red zone with a tear length of less than 21 mm and associated with ACL reconstruction. |
