Resiliency Does Not Correlate With Outcome Scores After Meniscectomy

Resilience is a psychometric parameter defined as one's ability to recover or bounce back from stressful events and has been shown to correlate with better outcomes following multiple orthopedic procedures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between resiliency, as measured using the Brief Resiliency Scale (BRS) and various knee outcome scores, including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and Return to Work, following isolated partial meniscectomy.

One hundred patients who had undergone an isolated partial meniscectomy during a 3-year period at a single institution were successfully recruited to participate in the study. The BRS and knee outcome scores (IKDC, Lysholm, SANE, Return to Work) were obtained via phone. Radiographs for each patient were obtained and graded for arthritis severity using the Kellgren-Lawrence classification system.

Brief Resiliency Scale scores ranged 15.0 to 23.0 with a mean of 18.2 ± 1.3. Mean knee outcome scores for IKDC, Lysholm, SANE, and Return to Work were 66.3, 77.1, 70.6, and 41.0, respectively. Outcome scores did not correlate with BRS scores. The severe arthritis group significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with worse IKDC, Lysholm, and Return to Work scores compared to mild arthritis scores. Additionally, analysis of the mild arthritis group revealed that resiliency significantly correlated with higher Return to Work scores compared to low resilience groups.

This study suggests that there is no significant relationship between patient resiliency and outcomes following partial meniscectomy. However, those with poorer outcomes had more severe arthritis.