Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
Autologous Microfractured and Purified Adipose Tissue for Arthroscopic Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Published on: January 23, 2018
Pediatric meniscal surgery in Italy: A 10-year epidemiological nationwide registry study
Andrea Riganti1, Marco Bigoni2,3,4,5, Edoardo Pierpaoli2
1Department of Economics, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Insights
Surgical treatment for pediatric meniscal tears in Italy declined overall from 2010-2019, but increased in adolescents over 13, particularly males. This suggests a need for better classification of meniscal repair versus meniscectomy.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Meniscal injuries are increasingly common in children and adolescents, driven by sports participation.
- These injuries pose a significant socioeconomic burden due to treatment and long-term effects.
- Understanding the epidemiology of pediatric meniscal tears is crucial for public health and healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology of surgically treated meniscal tears in individuals up to 18 years old in Italy.
- To examine trends in surgical incidence and patient demographics between 2010 and 2019.
- To assess the socioeconomic impact and healthcare burden associated with pediatric meniscal injuries.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Archive of Hospital Discharges in Italy.
- Selected cases using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) for surgically treated meniscal injuries.
- Excluded cases involving concomitant treatment of associated lesions; national population data sourced from ISTAT.
Main Results:
- 17,449 isolated meniscal tears underwent surgical treatment, with an average incidence of 20.6 per 100,000 in the pediatric population.
- The mean patient age was 15.85 years, with 89% being 14 years or older; females comprised 30% of cases.
- Medial meniscal surgery was more frequent than lateral, and a declining trend in overall surgical incidence was observed, with a mean hospitalization of 1.53 days.
Conclusions:
- A reduction in total surgeries was noted, alongside a rise in meniscal lesions in pediatric patients over 13, especially males.
- The global trend towards meniscal preservation is not reflected in Italy, partly due to ICD-9-CM classification limitations.
- Despite the overall decrease in surgery, improved management may be implied, but better diagnostic differentiation is needed.
Purpose:
Over the last two decades the incidence of meniscal injuries has grown amongst the pediatric population predominantly due to greater involvement in sporting activities. The treatment and the natural history represent a socioeconomic burden for healthcare systems. This study demonstrates the epidemiology of meniscal tears treated surgically in Italy from 2010 to 2019 in a population up to 18 years.
Methods:
Data was collected from the National Archive of Hospital Discharges. ICD9-CM classification was used to select surgically treated meniscal injuries. Concomitant treatment of associated lesions were excluded. Data on the national population was retrieved from the Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT). Statistical analyses were performed.
Results:
17,449 isolated meniscal tears were surgically treated with a mean incidence of 20.6 per 100.000 in the Italian population aged up to 18 from 2010 to 2019. The mean age of patients was 15.85 with 89 % aged 14 or older. 30 % of the population was female. The incidence of medial meniscal surgery was higher than for the lateral meniscus. A declining trend in surgical incidence was observed. The mean hospitalization time was 1.53 days.
Conclusions:
Our study reveals a reduction in the total number of surgeries performed over the time frame and a significant rise in the incidence of meniscal lesions in pediatric patient above at the age of 13, especially in males. Despite a worldwide shift towards meniscal preservation, this trend is not evident in Italy as the current ICD9-CM classification does not differentiate between meniscectomy and meniscal repair, although an overall reduction in surgery may imply better management.
Study Design:
Cohort study; Level of evidence III.
