Comparable clinical outcomes between patients aged over and under 60 ​years undergoing medial meniscus posterior root repair using a soft suture anchor technique: A preliminary retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate whether functional outcome scores in patients over 60 years of age improve after arthroscopic medial meniscus posterior root repair using a soft suture anchor. Additionally, it aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between patients over 60 years and those under 60 years of age.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 30 patients who underwent medial meniscus posterior root repair between June 2019 and February 2023. The patients were divided into two groups (≥60 years, n ​= ​15; <60 years, n ​= ​15). Outcomes were assessed using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm scores at two years, along with MRI-based meniscus healing and radiographic osteoarthritis progression.

RESULTS

Both age groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement in functional scores at two years. In the ≥60 years age group, IKDC improved from 31.9 ​± ​8.8 to 61.5 ​± ​11.3 (P ​< ​0.001) and Lysholm from 49.1 ​± ​14.9 to 87.6 ​± ​10.5 (P ​< ​0.001). In the <60 years group, IKDC improved from 35.7 ​± ​10.4 to 54.3 ​± ​8.1 (P ​< ​0.001) and Lysholm from 52.1 ​± ​19.3 to 82.0 ​± ​12.4 (P ​< ​0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups for functional scores, meniscal healing (P ​= ​0.352) or osteoarthritis progression (P ​= ​0.762).

CONCLUSIONS

The patients aged ≥60 years who underwent arthroscopic medial meniscus posterior root repair using a soft suture anchor demonstrated functional improvements comparable to younger patients. Age alone should not be a contraindication for this procedure, though long-term follow-up is warranted to assess osteoarthritis progression.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III-retrospective cohort study.