Seventeen-Year Follow-up After Meniscal Repair With Concomitant Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in a Pediatric and Adolescent Population.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown good and excellent clinical and radiographic results after meniscal repair. Limited published information exists on the long-term outcomes, however, especially in a pediatric and adolescent population.

PURPOSE: To determine long-term results of meniscal repair and concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in a pediatric and adolescent population. Specifically, the aims were to determine the clinical success rate of meniscal repair with concomitant ACL reconstruction, compare results with midterm outcomes, and analyze risk factors for failure.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: Cases of meniscal repair with concomitant ACL reconstruction between 1990 and 2005 were reviewed among patients aged ≤18 years. Patient demographics, injury history, and surgical details were recorded, and risk factors for failure were analyzed. Physical examination findings and clinical outcomes at latest available follow-up were collected. Subjective knee outcomes were compared with midterm results. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were used to evaluate the available data.

RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (30 females, 17 males) with a mean age of 16 years (SD, 1.37) and a mean follow-up of 16.6 years (SD, 3.57) were included in this study. Overall, 13 patients (28%) failed meniscal repair and required repeat surgery at the time of final follow-up. Of the 13 failures, 9 underwent a subsequent meniscectomy; 2, meniscectomy and revision ACL reconstruction; 1, meniscal repair and revision ACL reconstruction; and 1, meniscal repair and subsequent meniscectomy. Mean International Knee Documentation Committee scores improved from 47.9 preoperatively to 87.7 postoperatively ( P < .01), and the mean score at long-term follow-up (87.7) did not significantly differ from that at the midterm follow-up (88.5) at a mean 7.4 years ( P = .97). Mean Tegner Activity Scale scores improved from 1.9 preoperatively to 6.3 postoperatively ( P < .01) and decreased from 8.3 at preinjury to 6.3 at final long-term follow-up ( P < .01).

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the long-term overall clinical success rate (failure-free survival) was 72% for repair of pediatric and adolescent meniscal tears in the setting of concomitant ACL reconstruction. Patients reported excellent knee subjective outcome scores that remained favorable when compared with midterm follow-up.