Arthroscopic evaluation of meniscal repairs. Factors that effect healing

Fifty-one patients with 54 meniscal repairs were evaluated with second-look arthroscopy and physical examination at an average of 11 months (range, 4 to 30) after repair. Thirty-five of 54 repairs (65%) were completely healed and 9 repairs were incompletely healed, for an overall satisfactory healing rate of 81% (44 of 54 repairs). Ten repairs did not heal (19%). An anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction combined with meniscal repair increased meniscal healing--36 of 40 (90%) healed versus 8 of 14 (57%) in cruciate stable knees. Rim width was a significant factor; no meniscal repair with a rim width greater than 4 mm healed. Meniscal repair with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in patients less than 30 years old and performed within 19 weeks of injury resulted in improved healing rates. In patients with simultaneous meniscal repair and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, a higher rate of complete healing (16 of 19 repairs, 84%) was observed after the conservative rehabilitation program. Those who followed the aggressive program had a complete healing rate of 63% (12 of 19 repairs). Satisfactory healing (complete plus incomplete arthroscopic healing) was similar for both groups, 89% and 90%, respectively.