Clinical Outcomes of Revision Meniscal Repair

BACKGROUND: The failure rate after arthroscopic primary meniscal repair ranges from 5% to 43.5% (mean 15%). Patients requiring revision surgery may benefit from revision meniscal repair, however, the results of this procedure remain underreported. OBJECTIVE: This was a retrospective study aim to evaluate the outcome of revision meniscal repair in patients with re-tears in Makassar’s hospitals from 2010 – 2017. METHODS: A medical record review was performed to identify all patients undergoing revision meniscal repair between 2010 and 2017 in Makassar’s hospitals. Only patients with re-tears of the primary repaired meniscus were included. Surgical technique of primary and revision meniscus repair was detailed. The records of all patients were reviewed to collect patient demographics, affected side of the re-teared meniscus, reasons for failed primary repair, combined disorder, location of the tear, and duration between the primary and revision surgery. Follow-up evaluation included clinical outcome scores (Lysholm Score). RESULTS: A total 9 of 15 patients (5 male and 4 female) with a mean age of 25.3 years (range, 19 to 44) and a mean BMI of 24.48 kg/m(2) (range, 19.6 to 32.9) were included. Three lateral menisci and six medial meniscal repairs were revised at mean 23.3 months (range, 19 to 32) after primary repair. Reasons for failed primary repairs were traumatic re-tears in 4 patients (44%) and non-traumatic re-tears in 5 patients (56%). Patients undergoing isolated meniscal repair were found in 6 patients, 2 patients with ACL concomitant disorder, and 1 patient with osteoarthritis. Two tears occurred in the red-red zone and 7 in the red-white zone. At final follow-up, the mean Lysholm score significantly improved from 79.8 points (range, 75-84 points) at pre-revision to 88.1 (range, 80 to 97). CONCLUSION: Meniscal repair should always be considered when the anatomic conditions are favorable (location, type of tear, ACL status).