Functional and Radiological Outcome of Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair for Discoid Meniscus.

Introduction: Discoid meniscus (DM) is a congenital anomaly of the meniscus form that predisposes individuals to symptomatic DM, especially in the lateral meniscus. Arthroscopic meniscal repair has emerged as the preferred treatment approach for symptomatic cases, prioritizing meniscal preservation to maintain knee joint integrity and function. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiological and functional outcome of arthroscopic meniscal repair of DM using validated clinical scores and post-operative imaging. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted on 40 patients aged 10-40 years at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital. Arthroscopic meniscal repair consisted of an all-inside procedure, an inside-out procedure, or an outside-in procedure, based on the involved location. Functional outcomes of the post-operation have been determined, as well as the pre-operative rating systems of the Lysholm Knee Score on functionality. Minimum follow-up of the patients (24 months into the future) was followed to verify short-term healing, besides checking the long-term effects of the patients at earlier patients. Results: The majority of patients were male (60%) and presented with symptoms such as knee pain and thud (43.33%). The mean pre-operative Lysholm score was 56.20, which significantly improved to 91.29 postoperatively (P < 0.001). According to the Lysholm score grading, 83.3% of patients achieved good outcomes, 3.33% excellent, and 13.3% fair. No poor outcomes were observed. Radiology showed satisfactory joint presentation in all cases. Conclusion: Arthroscopic meniscal repair for DM leads to significant functional improvement and satisfactory radiological outcomes. This technique is particularly beneficial for young, active individuals, contributing to joint preservation and reducing the risk of early osteoarthritis. Further long-term studies with larger cohorts are recommended to confirm sustained benefits and monitor degenerative changes.