Are clinical outcomes and failure rate following meniscal repair for vertical-longitudinal tears age-dependent

This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and failure rate following meniscal repair for vertical-longitudinal tears between patients 40 years of age or older and patients younger than 40 years. Between 2008 and 2016, 134 patients with vertical longitudinal meniscal tear repair (121 males and 13 females) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two main groups according to age: 40 years (Group 2). The clinical status of patients was evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Tegner, Lysholm, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores, Barretts criteria were used to assess meniscal healing. Patient and tear characteristics, operative features were also investigated. The mean follow-up time was 57.8 ± 13.0 months (range, 24-84 months). There was a significant improvement in clinical scores in both groups (p 0.05). Failure was noted in 8 patients (8.9%) in group 1, 4 patients (9.1%) in group 2 (p>0.05). Time to failure was significantly lower in the older-aged group (p=0.040). Red-white (RW) zone tears, Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2) and late repairs (>2 months) were found to be significantly higher in failed repairs (p=0.005, p=0.020, p=0.042, respectively). Clinical outcomes following arthroscopic repair for vertical-longitudinal meniscal tears do not differ in terms of age. Especially peripheral tears should be repaired in the early period because of their better healing potential regardless of age. [Med-Science 2020; 9(3.000): 692-9]