The effect of brace use on clinical outcomes after arthroscopic meniscus repair.

OBJECTIVE

It was aimed to evaluate the necessity of using range of motion (ROM) restrictive braces in the postoperative follow-up and rehabilitation of patients who underwent arthroscopic repair due to meniscal tear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Among the patients who applied to our Orthopedics and Traumatology Department with knee pain, stuck and locking sensation, between January 2020 and December 2020, the files of those who were diagnosed with meniscus tear and underwent arthroscopic repair as a result of physical examination and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination, were evaluated retrospectively. Patients who underwent reconstruction in the same session due to concomitant ligament injury and who had repaired with a technique other than the all-inside repair technique were not included in the study. A total of 48 patients were included in the study to form two equal groups. The results of the patients were evaluated using the Lysholm Score, Modified Cincinnati Score and clinical examination results.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 35.3 (18-51). It was determined that the mean Lysholm score was increased by 22.3 points to 89.5, the average Modified Cincinnati score was determined to be 26.95 with an increase of 1.31 points, and the average visual analog scale (VAS) score decreased from 7.2 to 2.1.

CONCLUSIONS

As a result of the current literature and our study, it was concluded that there is no need for ROM restriction in the knee joint in patients who undergo arthroscopic meniscus repair. It was determined that the biomechanical changes demonstrated by cadaver studies and MRI models were not reflected in clinical results.