A study published in The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery shows patients who underwent refixation had greater benefits than those who were treated with partial meniscectomy.
Here are eight key facts:
1. The study was conducted over the course of a five-year period.
2. Researchers followed 20 patients who underwent treatment with partial meniscectomy and 37 patients who underwent arthroscopic root refixation with pullout repair.
3. The average follow-up for the partial meniscectomy group was 67.7 months, and 72 months for the refixation group.
4. These patients were evaluated using Lysholm and IKDC scores, as well as radiographically evaluating patients for their Kellgren-Lawrence grade and medical joint space width.
5. The average Lysholm and IKDC scores had significantly improved from preoperative values to last follow-up in both groups, with the refixation group showing significantly better scores for both measures compared with the partial meniscectomy group. The medical joint space width significantly worsened in both groups, but there was less K-L progression and less medical joint space narrowing in the refixation group compared to the partial meniscectomy group.
6. Thirty-five percent of the patients in the partial meniscectomy group required conversion to total knee arthroplasty, while no patient in the refixation group needed conversion.
7. According to a Kaplan-Meier analysis, the partial meniscectomy group and refixation group had a five year survival rate of 75 percent and 100 percent, respectively.
8. In conclusion, researchers found patients who underwent refixation had superior clinical scores, radiologic outcomes and survivorship.