Clinical outcomes of a standardized rehabilitation protocol for meniscal repair: A retrospective case series

Abstract

Background/Purpose: To examine clinical and functional outcomes of patients who underwent meniscal repair with a modified accelerated rehabilitation program. Methods: This study represents a case series of patients who underwent meniscal repair from 2017 to 2019. The mean patient age was 26.6 (range: 15–47) years. Of the 28 total patients, 22 had concomitant anterior cruciate ligament tears that were treated with single-bundle hamstring reconstruction at the time of meniscal repair. All patients were enrolled in a standardized rehabilitation program, allowing early-phase protected weight-bearing and knee mobilization. Patient-reported symptoms, the McMurray test, and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) were used to evaluate outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 13 ± 3.1 (range: 9–20) months. Results: Of the participating patients, 75% (22 of 28) returned to their original sports activities. Most patients displayed satisfactory clinical outcomes with significant improvements in IKDC scores. No re-tears were detected. Conclusion: Early protected weight-bearing with progressive early knee mobilization is a safe rehabilitation option after meniscal repair.