The Incidence of Healing in Arthroscopic Meniscal Repairs in Anterior Cruciate Ligament-reconstructed Knees Versus Stable Knees

In this study, follow-up data was obtained in 90 of 117 consecutive meniscal repairs. In Group I, there were 68 meniscal repairs in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and in Group II, 22 isolated repairs in anterior cruciate ligament stable knees. Meniscal healing was assessed using the criteria established by Henning, by either arthroscopy or arthrography, at a mean of 7 months for isolated repairs and a mean of 10 months for repairs done in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Average time from injury to surgery was 19 months in Group I patients, and 14 months in Group II patients. The overall rate of successful healing was 82%. Group I repairs were successful 93% of the time compared to a 50% success rate in Group II (P less than 0.00005). Lateral meniscal repairs fared better than medial repairs in both groups. Although a smaller rim width yielded better overall healing, there was no difference in the mean rim width of the two groups. Patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction did better than those with isolated meniscal repair, regardless of tear length. Older patients had better healing than younger ones. Overall, acute repairs were more successful than repairs of chronic tears. Even so, the chronic Group I patients had a 91% successful healing rate.