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Outcomes of Meniscus Repair in Children and Adolescents

  • Pediatric Orthopedics (B Heyworth, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this study was to review the clinical and functional outcomes of meniscus repair in children and adolescents.

Recent Findings

The sequel of meniscal tears and the outcome of meniscus repair have been well studied in adults. However, these topics have received less attention in the pediatric population despite the high prevalence and potentially critical effect on long-term knee function in children.

Summary

Meniscus repair has a healing rate ranging from 33 to 100% with less than 40% reoperation rate. Several factors have been suggested to play a role in healing, such as concomitant ACL reconstruction and complexity of the tear. There is a lack of standardization among the utilization of functional outcome and activity level questionnaires across studies; however, most report improved function postoperatively. Other important considerations include bucket handle tears, the discoid meniscus, rehabilitation and return to sports, and alternatives after failed meniscus repair. Based on the favorable outcomes reported, meniscus repair should be attempted in most meniscus tears in children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Brian W. Yang, Elizabeth S. Liotta & Nikolaos Paschos

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  1. Brian W. Yang
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  2. Elizabeth S. Liotta
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  3. Nikolaos Paschos
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Correspondence to Nikolaos Paschos.

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Brian W. Yang, Elizabeth S. Liotta, and Nikolaos Paschos each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pediatric Orthopedics

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Yang, B.W., Liotta, E.S. & Paschos, N. Outcomes of Meniscus Repair in Children and Adolescents. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 12, 233–238 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-019-09554-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-019-09554-6

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