Affecting Factors to Arthroscopic Inside-Out Repair of Isolated Meniscus Tear

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Clinical outcomes of arthroscopic meniscal repair for isolated meniscal tear were investigated and the factors affecting the outcome were determined MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 25 cases of 24 patients with isolated meniscal injury who underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair follow-up for more than 1 year. Results were evaluated by clinical healing criteria and Lysholm score in relation with age, elapsed time to surgery, location, length & patterns of tear. RESULTS: 20 cases (80%) were clinically healed. The average Lysholm scores improved from 69.3 to 86.2. Those who were under the age of 30 years old had significant relationship with rates of clinical healing. The length, patterns, location of tear, and elapsed time to surgery affected clinical results but, they did not have statistic significance. CONCLUSION: In spite of some limitations of indication, arthroscopic inside-out meniscal repair in isolated meniscal tears provide reliable method for successful outcome. Age at the time of injury has positive correlation with clinical result.