ARTHROSCOPIC MENISCAL REPAIR. LONG-TERM RESULTS.

Abstract

The arthroscopic meniscal repair is being applied nowadays successfully in any longitudinal tear of the medial or the lateral meniscus wliicli is located in zones II and 111 (in consistency with the zones of menisci vascularity according to Miller, Wagner, Hamer).

The material of this study includes 68 consecutive cases of patients who underwent arthroseopic meniscal repair. Thirty four of them (50%) were in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament tear, which was treated at the same time. The patients age ranged from 15 to 50 (average 30.5 years). The length of follow up averaged 30.1 months. In all cases ilic “inside out” technique was performed according to Jacobs – Staenbli method. Postoperatively, all the patients followed a particular program of rehabihtation with the aid of a controlled motion knee brace, immediate weight-bearing with the brace locked in 10°, and motion without weight – bearing from 10 to 90 degrees of flexion for the first six weeks. Weight – bearing in motion was followed after the sixth week.

The reexamination of the patients and the evaluation of the results was subjective and was performed according to the Lyshota score (average 95%). Recurrence occurred in 5 paiicms within 6 months, 3 of whom were submitted to menisccctomy. The rest of the patients returned to their former activities in a six month period.

The arthroscopic meniscal repair provides excellent results and should always be applied when there is an indication, because the salvage of the meniscus contributes -among others- to the prevention of degenerative articular cartilage disease (osteoarthrosis).