Mid-term evaluation of clinical and functional outcomes after arthroscopic medial longitudinal and bucket-handle meniscus repair

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicaland functional outcomes following the arthroscopic medialmeniscal repair.Patients and methods: A total of 50 patients (42 males,8 females; mean age: 32.9±7.6 years; range, 17 to 48 years)who underwent arthroscopic repair for longitudinal andbucket-handle medial meniscal tears between March 2005and October 2011 were retrospectively evaluated. Thepatients were divided into two groups as those havinga longitudinal tear (patient group, n=31) and having abucket-handle tear (control group, n=19). Preoperativeand final follow-up functional outcomes were evaluatedusing the Lysholm Knee Score (LKS), International KneeDocumentation Committee (IKDC) score, Tegner ActivityScale (TAS) score, and Knee Injury and OsteoarthritisOutcome Score (KOOS).Results: The mean follow-up was 61.7±22.8 (range, 36 to 110)months. The mean preoperative LKS, IKDC score, TAS,and KOOS scores were significantly improved at the finalpostoperative follow-up (p0.05), and isolated repairs andconcomitant meniscal repair and anterior cruciate ligamentreconstruction (p>0.05).Conclusion: Arthroscopic meniscal repair providessimilar mid-term functional and clinical outcomes forlongitudinal and bucket-handle medial meniscal tears.Concomitant meniscal repair does not seem to affectmeniscal healing.