Weightbearing Versus Nonweightbearing After Meniscus Repair.
BACKGROUND
Optimal rehabilitation after meniscal repair remains controversial.


OBJECTIVE
To review the current literature on weightbearing status after meniscal repairs and to provide evidence-based recommendations for postoperative rehabilitation.


METHODS
MEDLINE (January 1, 1993 to July 1, 2014) and Embase (January 1, 1993 to July 1, 2014) were queried with use of the terms meniscus OR/AND repair AND rehabilitation.


METHODS
Included studies were those with levels of evidence 1 through 4, with minimum 2 years follow-up and in an English publication.


METHODS
Systematic review.


METHODS
Level 4.


METHODS
Demographics and clinical and radiographic outcomes of meniscus repair at a minimum of 2 years follow-up were extracted.


RESULTS
Successful clinical outcomes ranged from 70% to 94% with conservative rehabilitation. More recent studies using an accelerated rehabilitation protocol with full weightbearing and early range of motion reported 64% to 96% good results.


CONCLUSIONS
Outcomes after both conservative (restricted weightbearing) protocols and accelerated rehabilitation (immediate weightbearing) yielded similar good to excellent results; however, lack of similar objective criteria and consistency among surgical techniques and existing studies makes direct comparison difficult.
Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina kelly.vanderhave@carolinashealthcare.org.
Kelly L
KL
VanderHave
Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Crystal
C
Perkins
Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Michael
M
Le
D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D016474:Weight-Bearing
meniscus; rehabilitation; repair; weightbearing