Current Rehabilitation Principles Following Meniscus Repairs.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Biomechanical engineering

Background:

• Meniscus tears are common knee injuries.
• Current treatment trends favor meniscus repair over debridement.
• Optimizing postoperative rehabilitation is crucial for healing and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• Synthesize current scientific understanding of meniscus anatomy, biomechanics, and repair.
• Establish an evidence-based foundation for postoperative rehabilitation guidelines.
• Define timelines and criteria for return to activity to maximize healing and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of current scientific literature on meniscus anatomy, biomechanics, and repair techniques.
• Analysis of rehabilitation protocols, focusing on weight-bearing, range of motion, and return-to-activity criteria.
• Evidence-based recommendations for varied tear types and repair methods.

Main Results:

• Rehabilitation protocols should be individualized based on meniscus tear characteristics (size, type, location).
• Complex tears (root, radial) require conservative protocols (e.g., 6 weeks non-weight-bearing), while stable tears (ramp, vertical) may allow earlier weight-bearing.
• Return to activity typically requires ≥4 months, guided by clinical assessment, imaging, and performance testing; joint line tenderness or effusion may indicate healing issues.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative meniscus repair rehabilitation must be tailored to specific tear types and repair methods.
• Guidelines for weight-bearing, range of motion, and return to activity should be time- and criteria-based.
• Further research is needed to optimize repair techniques and rehabilitation protocols, particularly regarding weight-bearing and return-to-activity timing.