Prognostic Factors Related to Meniscal Healing in Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair

Kim, Ryuh Sup; Cho, Kyu Jung; Choi, Dong Hun; Jung, Hyuk Chae; Park, Young Ha

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the significant prognostic factors in terms of age, rupture side (lateral or medial), existence of associated lesion, length and zone-that affect clinical healing after meniscal repair.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data were obtained from 55 patients who had been observed at least for 18 months after meniscal repair. Healing was decided based on the patients'clinical symptoms, and analyses were made according to clinical data.
RESULTS
The clinical healing rate of meniscal repairs was found to be 82% (45 patients), and was higher in ruptures accompanied by anterior cruciate ligament injury than meniscus rupture alone, when the length of the meniscal rupture was less than 2 cm. Age and rupture side (lateral or medial, peripheral or central) had no significant effect upon clinical healing.
CONCLUSION
The length of meniscal rupture and meniscal rupture associated with ACL were found to be infinately correlated with good prognosis, but age, site, and zone of meniscal rupture probably do not affect prognosis.