Sports medicine stats: Meniscus surgeries in children and adolescents
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
A recent study looked at arthroscopic knee surgery for meniscus tears. Surgery was performed on 293 patients and 324 menisci. 129 of the procedures were primary repairs of the meniscus. 149 were primary partial meniscectomies, and 46 discoid saucerizations with or without stabilization. The success rate of meniscal surgery is 87% in children and adolescents. 13% of the menisci required a revision procedure. Primary repairs had the highest failure rate (18%), followed by the primary discoid saucerization (15%) and partial meniscectomies (7%). Children with an open physis and a bucket-handle tear had the highest retear rate of 46%.
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine, Published online January 27, 2016
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.