Arthroscopic meniscal repair in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: factors affecting the healing rate.

Ninety-eight of 121 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopy-assisted meniscal repair in combination with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were evaluated by second-look arthroscopy with an average interval of 16 months (range, 6 to 63 months). Of the 98 meniscal repairs, 73 had completely healed, 13 had incompletely healed, and 12 had not healed. Six possible factors that may have affected the healing of the repaired menisci were statistically analyzed. There were no statistically significant differences between the three groups with respect to sex, age, tear site on the medial or lateral meniscus, or residual anterior laxity as measured using the KT-1000. The factors that had a statistically significant impact on healing rate were the rim width and meniscal locking. Negative correlations with the healing rate were observed in menisci that were repaired in the central third zone and that had been locked or could be locked by probing at the time of surgery.