Meniscus repair: a review of techniques and long-term outcomes

Advancements in technology and techniques have shaped meniscus repair outcomes, but long term results remain unclear. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate studies with a mean follow-up of greater than 10 years following inside-out, outside-in, all-inside, open, or pull-out repair techniques. In addition, this article will review the impact of concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on long-term meniscus repair outcomes and compare osteoarthritis risk of patients treated partial meniscectomy compared with meniscus repair. We hypothesize there is increased evidence of osteoarthritis following partial meniscectomy compared to all types of meniscal repair.

PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria included full-text English language, human patients with at least one outcome reported after meniscus repair, and publication before June 22, 2021. Exclusion criteria included mean follow up of less than 10 years, published before the year 2000, or significant concomitant procedures within the knee during meniscus repair.

Inside-out, all-inside, trans-tibial pull-out, and open repair techniques of meniscal tears demonstrate clinical success and good long-term outcomes. Data regarding the impact of concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on meniscus repair outcomes are conflicting. The risk of osteoarthritis is reduced in meniscal repair when compared with partial meniscectomy.

Outcomes of meniscus repair are favorable at 10 years post-operative regardless of technique. While the impact of concomitant ACL reconstruction on meniscus repair outcomes is unclear, meniscus repair is associated with decreased osteoarthritis risk compared to partial meniscectomy. Level of evidence IV; systematic review of level III-IV studies.