Clinical and second-look arthroscopic evaluation of repaired medial meniscus in anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knees.
BACKGROUND
Tears of the medial meniscus posterior horn (MMPH) are frequently found in knees with deficient anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs). There are few studies that have evaluated healing of the menisci and the factors associated with healing.


OBJECTIVE
The repaired menisci would show good healing in the knees with reconstructed ACLs, and the healing capacity of the menisci would differ according to the size, type, and location of the tear as well as the age and gender.


METHODS
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.


METHODS
From August 1997 to February 2007, 311 knees underwent MMPH repair using either a modified all-inside or inside-out technique with concomitant ACL reconstruction. Among these patients, a second-look arthroscopy was performed at a mean of 37.7 months postoperatively (range, 12-128 months) in 140 patients. Clinical parameters and outcomes were evaluated. The repaired menisci were divided into complete, incomplete, and failure-to-heal groups. The factors associated with meniscal healing were statistically assessed.


RESULTS
Among 140 patients, 118 (84.3%) showed complete healing, 17 (12.1%) had incomplete healing, and 5 (3.6%) failed to heal. The clinical success rate was 96.4% (135/140) because patients in the incomplete group showed no clinical symptoms associated with meniscal tears. Healing was associated with the tear location (P <.001) and type of tear (P =.0237) on the univariate analysis and the location (P =.0401) only on the multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Repaired MMPH tears in knees with reconstructed ACLs healed without complications and had satisfactory clinical results. The tear location and type were factors associated with healing on the univariate analysis and location only on the multivariate analysis.
Ahn
Jin Hwan
JH
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Yong Seuk
YS
Yoo
Jae Chul
JC
Chang
Moon Jong
MJ
Koh
Kyoung Hwan
KH
Kim
Mu Hyun
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D024162:Second-Look Surgery; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult