Sports Participation and Performance 5 Years After Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 288 Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate return to sport (RTS) approximately 5 years after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM).

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS: Knee Arthroscopy Cohort Southern Denmark patients were asked about RTS and reasons for non-RTS approximately 5 years (range, 4-6 years) after APM using online questionnaires. Patients engaged in their sport at the pre-injury level at follow-up were classified as "RTS" (or "returned to sport") and as being engaged in their sport with (1) full participation and performance, (2) reduced performance, or (3) both reduced participation and performance. Self-reported knee function was assessed using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS).

RESULTS: We included 288 patients (mean ± SD age, 49 ± 12 years; 44% women). Of these, 172 patients (60%; 95% confidence interval, 54%-65%) were classified as returned to sport, but only 42% (72/172) reported full participation and performance. Persistent problems with the operated knee were reported by 60% of the patients as the main reason for reduced participation or performance and by 70% of the patients as the main reason for not returning to pre-injury levels of their sport. Patients who had returned to sport, on average, improved by 10.1 points (95% confidence interval, 5.7-14.4) more in KOOS4 scores from baseline to 5 years than non-RTS patients.

CONCLUSION: At approximately 5 years after APM, 6 in every 10 patients had returned to their sport at pre-injury levels, but only 1 in every 4 returned with full participation and performance, mainly due to persistent knee problems. Greater improvements in KOOS scores were observed in patients who were classified as returned to sport. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2022;52(4):224-232. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.10785.