Outcomes of Isolated Medial Meniscus Injuries in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Isolated medial meniscus injuries in skeletally immature patients are rare but clinically significant, as preserving meniscal integrity is crucial for maintaining long-term knee health and preventing early degenerative changes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes following surgical repair of isolated medial meniscus tears in skeletally immature patients. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) registration (CRD420251050682), comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar up to June 2025. Five observational studies involving 118 patients met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative synthesis of two studies demonstrated excellent postoperative outcomes, with pooled Lysholm and Tegner scores of approximately 90 and 7, respectively, indicating near-complete recovery of knee function and return to pre-injury activity levels. The pooled re-operation rate was low at about 10%. These findings highlight the success of arthroscopic meniscal repair in preserving knee function in skeletally immature patients and support meniscal preservation as the preferred treatment strategy in this population. Further high-quality prospective studies are warranted to standardise outcome reporting and assess long-term durability into adulthood.