A systematic review about long-term results after meniscus repair

Petersen W, Karpinski K, Bierke S, Müller Rath R, Häner M · Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery

Failure rates across the twelve studies ran from 5% to 48%, and did not differ statistically between open repair, arthroscopic inside-out and all-inside repair with flexible non-resorbable implants. Two implants did differ from each other: 22.3% for one flexible anchor against 48% for another. Failure was significantly higher in the studies of children and adolescents than in those of adults. Six studies reported minor radiological degenerative change differing little from the opposite knee, and the clinical scores at follow-up were good to very good.

Population

Twelve retrospective case series reporting failure rates after meniscus repair at a minimum of seven years of follow-up

Intervention

Meniscus repair — open, arthroscopic inside-out, or all-inside with flexible implants

Limitations

Twelve retrospective case series, level 4 throughout, with no comparator arm and no pooled estimate — the review reports a range rather than a rate, and a range from 5% to 48% is as much a statement about the studies as about the operation. Failure is defined differently between them. There is no funding source and the authors declare no conflict of interest.