Success of meniscal repair at anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
Meniscal repair is performed in an attempt to prevent posttraumatic arthritis resulting from meniscal dysfunction after meniscal tears. The socioeconomic implications of premature arthritis are significant in the young patient population. Investigations and techniques focusing on meniscus preservation and healing are now at the forefront of orthopaedic sports medicine.


OBJECTIVE
Concomitant meniscal repair with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a durable and successful procedure at 2-year follow-up.


METHODS
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.


METHODS
All unilateral primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions entered in 2002 in a cohort who had meniscal repair at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were evaluated. Validated patient-oriented outcome instruments were completed preoperatively and then again at the 2-year postoperative time point. Reoperation after the index procedure was also documented and confirmed by operative reports.


RESULTS
A total of 437 unilateral primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions were performed with 82 concomitant meniscal repairs (54 medial, 28 lateral) in 80 patients during the study period. Patient follow-up was obtained on 94% (77 of 82) of the meniscal repairs, allowing confirmation of meniscal repair success (defined as no repeat arthroscopic procedure) or failure. The overall success rate for meniscal repairs was 96% (74 of 77 patients) at 2-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Meniscal repair is a successful procedure in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. When confronted with a "repairable" meniscal tear at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, orthopaedic surgeons can expect an estimated >90% clinical success rate at 2-year follow-up using a variety of methods as shown in our study.
Toman
Charles V
CV
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Dunn
Warren R
WR
Spindler
Kurt P
KP
Amendola
Annunziata
A
Andrish
Jack T
JT
Bergfeld
John A
JA
Flanigan
David
D
Jones
Morgan H
MH
Kaeding
Christopher C
CC
Marx
Robert G
RG
Matava
Matthew J
MJ
McCarty
Eric C
EC
Parker
Richard D
RD
Wolcott
Michelle
M
Vidal
Armando
A
Wolf
Brian R
BR
Huston
Laura J
LJ
Harrell
Frank E
FE
Wright
Rick W
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult