[A non-immobilizing regimen following meniscal suturing]

Vertical lesions in the peripheral third of the meniscus were sutured in 13 patients. The patients were treated with restricted activity postoperatively instead of immobilization. The patients were kept in bed until they could lift the leg with extended knee, which they were allowed up with careful support (and support with crutches) until the sutures were removed on the loth day. After removal of the sutures, patients were permitted to bear weight with the knee extended until limited by pain and were permitted unlimited flexion of the knee. From the 21st day, rehabilitation with weight-bearing with the flexed knee was permitted until they could be discharged with normal mobility and quadriceps power after an average of 6.4 weeks. Re-rupture was demonstrated in one patient. At the time of examination after a period of observation of 25.5 months, the patients had an average score of 78 points on Lysholm's functional scale from 0-100. These results are apparently similar to the results obtained following immobilizating regimens. The authors therefore conclude that it is ethically justifiable to carry out an extensive comparative investigation of the results after immobilizing and nonimmobilizating regimens, respectively, following suture of menisci. An investigation of this type appears to be necessary.