# Evaluation of Functional Outcomes After Arthroscopic All-Inside Meniscal Repair

## TL;DR

This study shows that arthroscopic all-inside meniscal repair improves knee function and is safe for patients.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the effectiveness of arthroscopic all-inside meniscal repair.

## Key findings

- Functional scores like Lysholm and Tegner improved significantly after surgery.
- Over 80% of patients had excellent or good outcomes with minimal complications.
- The procedure is safe and effective for meniscal tear management.

## Abstract

Introduction

Meniscal injuries are among the most common knee pathologies and play a significant role in the development of early osteoarthritis when inadequately treated. Preservation of the meniscus has therefore become a key principle in modern knee surgery. Arthroscopic all-inside meniscal repair has gained popularity due to reduced surgical morbidity, shorter operative time, and lower risk to neurovascular structures compared with traditional repair techniques. This study evaluates the functional outcomes and safety of the arthroscopic all-inside meniscal repair technique.

Methodology

This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Orthopedics at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore. A total of 38 patients diagnosed with meniscal injury were included. All patients underwent arthroscopic all-inside meniscal repair. Functional outcomes were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at two weeks, three months, and six months using the Lysholm Knee Score, Tegner Activity Scale, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain.

Results

There was a statistically significant improvement in all functional outcome measures following surgery. Mean Lysholm, IKDC, Tegner, and VAS scores showed progressive improvement at each follow-up interval compared with preoperative values. At the final six-month follow-up, the mean Lysholm score and Tegner Activity Scale improved from 64.4 ± 8.2 preoperatively to 94.05 ± 7.2, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Over 80% of patients demonstrated excellent to good functional outcomes with minimal complications.

Conclusions

Arthroscopic all-inside meniscal repair is a safe, effective, and reliable technique for the management of meniscal tears. It provides excellent short-term functional outcomes with high patient satisfaction and a low complication rate. The procedure supports meniscal preservation and can be expected to yield successful results in the majority of appropriately selected patients.