title: [Meniscal repair in patients with chronic lesions].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the subjective and objective outcome of arthroscopic meniscal repair in patients with chronic meniscal lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of patients that underwent arthroscopic meniscal repair of chronic tears with a minimum follow-up of six months was retrospectively evaluated. Physical examination oriented at finding persistent meniscal lesions was performed. IKDC, Lysholm and Tegner scores were applied, and a control magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty seven menisci in 25 patients were repaired. There were 21 male and 4 female patients with a mean age of 29.6 +/- 8.2 years (20-45). Mean time from lesion to surgery was 25.24 +/- 26 months (6-120). 27. There was significant improvement in all parameters evaluated in 21 patients. Four patients were found to have signs and symptoms of persistent meniscal tears. Abnormal increased signal intensity in the repaired menisci was observed by MRI in all patients, not correlating with clinical findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term success rate of 85% was obtained with arthroscopic repair of chronic meniscal lesions in this study, which supports the fact that a long period of time before surgery does not necessarily lead to failure. It is valid to perform a meniscal repair in patients with chronic tears as long as the proper surgical technique and an adequate rehabilitation protocol are used.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Ortopedia del Deporte y Artroscopía del INR. cibarra@inr.gob.mx
authors.forename: José Clemente Ibarra
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ponce de León
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sierra Suárez
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almazán Díaz
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cruz López
authors.forename: Francisco Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Pérez Jiménez
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Encalada Díaz
authors.forename: Saúl Renán
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: León Hernández
authors.forename: Maritza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angulo Gutiérrez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome