Arthroscopic meniscus repair and preliminary (average 30 months) results

Abstract

Arthroscopic meniscal repairs were applied to the 20 patients having peripheral (meniscocapsular junction or 3mm. peripheral) meniscus tears which were instable, vertical longitudinal and longer than 1 cm in length between 1993 and 1996. 16 patients were male and 4 patients were female. Mean age was 26.6 years (range; 17 to 40 years). Arthroscopic repair was applied to the right knees in 13 patients and to the left knees in 7 patients. There were 11 medial meniscal tears and 9 lateral meniscal tears in patients who were applied arthroscopic repair. As arthroscopic meniscal techniques in 2 cases were used. There were anterior cruciate ligament rupture in 4 cases. Two were reconstructed and other two were treated conservatively since patients did not accepted the surgery. Average follow-up was 30 months (range; 13 to 51 months). Patients were evaluated according to the Modified Marshall Knee Scoring System (MMKS) and the mean MMKS was 28. 65 (excellent). There were no pain and mechanical symptoms in the follow-ups of the patient. There were stiffness of knee joint of two patients postoperatively because of prolonged immobilization. Full range of motions were obtained after arthroscopic release, manipulation under anesthesia and aggressive rehabilitation. There were no stiffness in other cases who were applied short term immobilization and early motion. A patient had pain around the region where infrapatellar branch of safenous nerve located. This pain resolved completely in 6 months. All patients returned to the previous sportive activity level in 4 months. In this study, we observed the healing of meniscal tears which were in peripheral vascular region and having undamaged meniscus. We believe that the aim of knee surgery should be to preserve and repair the menisci.