Meniscal Repair in Athletes: Functional Outcomes and Return to Sport

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Knee Biomechanics

Background:

• Arthroscopic meniscal repair is a primary treatment for athletes with meniscal tears.
• Return to sport (RTS) after meniscal repair is a critical concern for athletic populations.
• Understanding factors influencing healing and functional outcomes is essential for optimizing RTS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate factors influencing healing, functional outcomes, and RTS after isolated meniscal repair in athletes.
• To identify predictors of successful return to pre-injury sport levels.
• To assess the efficacy of arthroscopic meniscal repair in a young, active cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 53 athletes (<50 years) undergoing isolated meniscal repair.
• Inclusion criteria: no concomitant ACL injury, ≥12 months follow-up.
• Evaluation using International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Tegner scores, demographic, surgical, and clinical data.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in functional scores (IKDC: 48.5 to 76.2).
• High RTS rate (86.8%), with 66% returning to their pre-injury level.
• Positive outcome predictors: surgery within 3 months, age <20, non-smoking, vertical tear pattern, high preoperative function.

Conclusions:

• Meniscal repair is a viable option for young, active athletes, yielding good short- to medium-term results.
• A high RTS rate is achievable, but patient-specific factors are crucial for recovery.
• Individualized assessment is recommended to optimize recovery and set realistic RTS expectations.