Meniscal lesions treated with suture: a follow-up study using survival analysis.

Abstract

Fifty-seven patients, 45 males and 12 females with a median age of 23 years (range 8-56), underwent meniscal refixation by suture from 1986 through 1991. We used an arthroscopic outside-in technique with PDS sutures through injection cannulas. Thirty-six knees were stable and 21 had anterior cruciate insufficiency, five of which were subjected to surgery concomitantly with patellar tendon reconstruction and two of which were subjected to surgery at a later occasion. Fifty-one patients could be evaluated at a follow-up time of 2 months to 5.5 years (median 1.5, mean 2), and calculations were made using the BMDP statistical package and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. No serious complications were encountered. Twenty patients (39%) have undergone reoperation because of meniscal rerupturing. At 5 years, the cumulative survival rate is 50%. Smaller (posterior) lesions healed better than did more extensive lesions. No statistical influence of factors such as medial or lateral localization, age of patient or lesion, present displacement of meniscus, instability of the knee, or experience of the surgeon was evident.