Long-term outcome after all inside meniscal repair using the FasT-Fix system

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Meniscal repair is a common orthopaedic procedure.
• Meniscal repair offers chondroprotective benefits, making it preferable when feasible.
• The FasT-Fix System is an all-inside technique for meniscal repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term (minimum 12 years) outcomes of meniscal repair using the FasT-Fix System.
• To assess failure rates and functional outcomes after FasT-Fix meniscal repair.
• To compare outcomes between isolated meniscal tears and those combined with ACL rupture.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of patients undergoing FasT-Fix meniscal repair between 2001-2003.
• Median 12-year follow-up conducted in 2015.
• Failure defined as re-operation on the same meniscus; functional outcomes assessed using KOOS and Tegner Activity Score (TAS).

Main Results:

• Overall success rate of 73% at 12-year follow-up.
• Higher failure rates observed in females (48%) compared to males (15%) and in soccer/indoor sports players.
• No significant difference in failure rates between simultaneous and delayed ACL repair.

Conclusions:

• Meniscal repair with the FasT-Fix System demonstrates a 73% success rate at 12 years.
• Isolated meniscal tears showed significantly better KOOS scores compared to combined injuries.
• Functional outcomes (TAS) were similar between isolated and combined injury groups.