Comparative Outcomes of Isolated Lateral Meniscal Repair and Meniscectomy in Professional Soccer Players: Implications for Return to Play, Career Longevity, and Performance

Partial meniscectomy and repair achieve high RTP rates, with meniscectomy allowing a faster RTP. While 15% of meniscal repairs failed, rates of subsequent surgery and 5- and 10-year professional sport participation did not differ significantly from those after partial meniscectomy, although the lack of statistical significance may be due to the limited sample size. Hence, partial meniscectomy for isolated lateral meniscal tears may be acceptable in carefully selected patients with proper management and recovery.