Abstract
Patients were followed up retrospectively by a combination of clinical review, mail and telephone questionnaires. The Lysholm knee (LS) and the Tegner activity (TA) scores were recorded.
From July 1991 until February 1999 75 meniscal repairs were carried out in 70 patients by a single surgeon (PJR). The average age of the patients was 26yrs 8 months, 52 male and 18 female. 14 patients (18.6%) were lost to formal follow-up. Lysholm Score (LS) and Tegner Activity (TA) scores were available on 58 repairs for analysis. The average follow-up was 6 yrs 4 months (range 3 yrs 4 months to 10 yrs 9 months), Average scores were LS=89.2, TA before surgery=6.2, TA after surgery=5.7. 9 patients had menisectomy following retear due to further injury. The overall success rate was 86.9%, with 74.1% scoring clinically good or excellent on the Lysholm Score.
There was a trend of improved results for patients over 30 yrs; those with longer tears and lateral repairs did slightly better. Those with ACL laxity had a significantly better result. The time interval to repair following injury did not make a difference. With an overall success rate of 86.9% the authors would recommend this traditional technique in light of the more recent techniques presently in use.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Tim Briggs. (Editoral Secretary 2003/4) Correspondence should be addressed to him at Lane Farm, Chapel Lane, Totternhoe, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 2BZ, United Kingdom
