Risk factors for meniscectomy after meniscal repair. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that a substantial percentage of meniscal repairs fail, resulting in a subsequent meniscectomy. Risk factors for failure have been investigated using small cohorts, providing ambiguous results. PURPOSE: To measure the frequency of and elucidate risk factors for subsequent meniscectomies after meniscal repair using a large study population from multiple surgical centers. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 9529 patients who underwent 9609 outpatient meniscal repairs between 2003 and 2010 were identified from a statewide database of all ambulatory surgery in New York. Patients who subsequently underwent a meniscectomy were then identified. A Cox regression analysis was used to calculate the hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals. The model included patient age, sex, comorbidities, concomitant arthroscopic procedures, laterality of the meniscus, and surgeon's yearly meniscal repair volume. RESULTS: The overall frequency of subsequent meniscectomies was 8.9%. Patients were at a decreased risk for subsequent meniscectomies if they underwent a concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (P < .001). Patients undergoing isolated meniscal repairs (without concomitant ACL reconstruction) were at a decreased risk if they were older (P < .001), had a lateral meniscal injury (P = .002), or were operated on by a surgeon with a higher annual meniscal repair volume (>24 cases/year; P < .001). CONCLUSION: A meniscectomy after meniscal repair is performed infrequently, supporting the notion that repairing a meniscus is a safe and effective procedure in the long term. The risk for undergoing subsequent meniscectomies is decreased in patients undergoing a concomitant ACL reconstruction, in cases of isolated meniscal repairs for patients of older age, and in patients undergoing meniscal repair by surgeons with a high case volume.

publication date

  • September 13, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Fractures, Cartilage
  • Knee Injuries
  • Menisci, Tibial
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Wound Healing

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84889011920

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1177/0363546513503444

PubMed ID

  • 24036573

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 41

issue

  • 12