Repair is indicated for tears in non-degenerative menisci. The literature reports a 15% failure rate for all-inside repair. The aim of the present study was to determine prognostic factors for failure of all-inside meniscal repair. The study hypothesis was that epidemiological, clinical and surgical factors affect success.

A retrospective study included 87 meniscal repair procedures, with or without anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Lesions were located in red-red or red-white zones. After freshening, repair comprised an all-inside arthroscopic technique using the FasT-Fix^® system (Smith & Nephew), with (70.1%) or without ligament reconstruction; all ACL tears were reconstructed. Preoperative data comprised: age, gender, smoking status, sports activity, trauma-to-surgery time, body mass index (BMI), frontal morphotype, and IKDC score. Intra- and postoperative data comprised: meniscal lesion characteristics, location, number of sutures, type of ACL reconstruction, presence of chondropathy, authorized postoperative ranges of motion, and IKDC score. Failure was defined by secondary meniscectomy.

At 31 months’ follow-up, there were 13 failures (15%). Mean postoperative IKDC score was 88.19 (range: 64.37–98.95). Bucket-handle lesion (P=0.006) and BMI>25 (P=0.014) emerged as significant factors of poor prognosis.

The present failure rate matched those reported in the literature. The more extensive the lesion, the higher the risk of failure. High BMI incurs mechanical stresses that increase the risk of failure.

IV, retrospective cohort study.