ArticleCureus2026
Meniscal Repair in Athletes: Functional Outcomes and Return to Sport.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionArthroscopic meniscal repair is the preferred treatment for meniscal tears in athletes, but return to sport (RTS) after surgery remains a significant concern. This study aimed to evaluate factors influencing healing, functional outcomes, and RTS after isolated meniscal repair.
methodsA retrospective study was conducted. Inclusion criteria (athletes < 50 years of age, isolated meniscal repair without concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, ≥12 months of follow-up) yielded a final cohort of 53 patients. Evaluation was based on demographic, surgical, and clinical data, including preoperative and postoperative subjective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Tegner functional scores.
resultsAt a mean follow-up of 21 ± 8.5 months, functional improvement was observed. The mean subjective IKDC score improved from 48.5 preoperatively to 76.2 postoperatively. The RTS rate was 46 (86.8%), with 35 (66%) of the total cohort returning to their pre-injury sport level. The mean time to return to running and training was 6.1 ± 2.8 months. Factors associated with positive outcomes included surgery within three months of injury (better Tegner score, p = 0.029), age < 20 years (better Tegner score, p = 0.020), non-smoking status (better IKDC score, p = 0.020), a vertical tear pattern (better IKDC and Tegner scores, p = 0.040 and p = 0.010, respectively), and a high preoperative functional status (IKDC score > 40 and Tegner score > 5).
conclusionMeniscal repair is a preferred option for young, active athletes, offering good short- to medium-term outcomes and a high RTS rate. These findings suggest the need for individualized assessment to optimize recovery and establish a realistic prognosis.
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