The trend in meniscal repair surgeries at a large academic center

Research Objectives: To review the literature that outlines the negative impact that most meniscal surgeries have on the patient and to contrast that with the volume of these surgeries at a large academic center

Design: Chart review over five years, comparing year by year the number of meniscal injuries and the number of these injuries that resulted in surgical intervention

Setting: Academic medical system with one dedicate orthopedic hospital

Participants: Patients seen in outpatient and inpatient settings for knee pathology involving the meniscus

Interventions: Review the trend of surgeries and contrast with the literature that identifies these as counterproductive and inferior to more conservative interventions

Main Outcome Measures: Number of meniscus surgeries per year, and the number of meniscus surgeries/number of meniscal injuries identified in clinic

Results: The number reduced significantly during the peak of COVID but then returned to an elevated level that was similar to that of the pre-COVID time.

Conclusions: Our academic system is not responding to the literature which now suggests that most meniscal surgeries are not needed and that many are counterproductive

Author(s) Disclosures: David Burke
Regina Bell