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Meniscus Repair in Pediatric Athletes
Brendan Shi1, Zachary Stinson2, Marie Lyne Nault3
1UCLA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
Clinics in Sports Medicine
|October 9, 2022
Summary
Pediatric meniscus tears require surgical consideration for specific symptoms. Repair offers better outcomes than meniscectomy due to the vascularity of pediatric menisci.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Sports Medicine
- Knee Surgery
Background:
- Meniscus tears are frequent in children, often resulting from noncontact injuries.
- Diagnosis is typically clinical, confirmed by MRI.
- Surgical intervention is indicated for limited range of motion, persistent pain, or complex/displaced tears.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review pediatric meniscus tear management.
- To compare pediatric meniscus repair techniques with adult procedures.
- To highlight the advantages of meniscus repair over meniscectomy in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Clinical diagnosis and MRI confirmation of meniscus tears.
- Surgical decision-making based on tear characteristics and patient symptoms.
- Review of pediatric meniscus repair techniques, considering tear location.
- Comparison of outcomes between pediatric and adult meniscus repair.
Main Results:
- Pediatric menisci exhibit better vascularity, leading to superior outcomes with repair compared to adults.
- Tear location is a critical factor in selecting the appropriate surgical repair technique.
- Meniscectomy is associated with poorer long-term outcomes in the pediatric population.
Conclusions:
- Meniscus repair should be prioritized in pediatric patients whenever feasible.
- Further research is needed on biologics and standardized postoperative protocols for pediatric meniscus repair.
