Long-term assessment of arthroscopic meniscus repair

Purpose of the study A prospective study was set up to evaluate meniscal suturing using an inside-out technique. Materials and methods Of an initial group of 20 patients who underwent closed meniscus repair between 1985 and 1988 using an inside-out technique, 13 were studied. All patients were subjected to a clinical examination and an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigation. The findings were compared with those of their previous follow-up examination (1994). The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee rating system was used. The study included 7 men and 6 women, ranging in age from 29 years to 50 years (mean age: 35 years 6 months). The mean follow-up was 13 years 2 months (11 years 11 months 15 years 4 months). Six left and 7 right knees were involved. Seven patients also had an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury of which one was repaired 6 years after meniscal repair. Results All patients obtained an HSS score of more than 75%. In all patients the site of the previous suture was still visible on MRI mainly by small metal artefacts in the meniscus. Patients with an unrepaired ACL lesion had an early onset of arthrosis and cartilage degeneration. Conclusion Meniscal suturing gives good clinical long-term results. Magnetic resonance imaging, however, showed signs of mucoid degeneration or scar tissue in 46% of the patients.