ASSESSING FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF ARTHROSCOPIC PARTIAL MENISCECTOMY IN MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS WITH MENISCAL TEARS

Background: Meniscal tears are a frequent cause of knee pain and disability in middle-aged adults. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) is widely performed, yet its functional outcomes in this age group remain debated. Local evidence is essential to optimize treatment selection and patient counseling. Objective: To determine the functional outcome of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in middle-aged adults with meniscal tears. Study Design: Descriptive study. Setting: The Orthopedic Surgery Department of Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Duration of Study: 27-Nov-2024 to 27-May-2025. Methods: A total of 87 patients aged 40–70 years with symptomatic meniscal tears were included. All patients underwent standardized arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Functional outcomes were assessed 12 weeks postoperatively using the Lysholm knee scoring scale and categorized as excellent (95–100), good (84–94), fair (65–83), or poor (<65). Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD, frequencies, percentages) were computed using SPSS 25. Results: The mean age of participants was 54.31 ± 8.67 years, with a slight male predominance (56.3%). Degenerative tears were more common (71.3%) compared to traumatic tears (28.7%). Postoperative functional outcomes were excellent in 33 (37.9%) patients, good in 31 (35.6%), fair in 21 (24.1%), and poor in 2 (2.3%). Conclusion: Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy demonstrated favorable short-term functional outcomes in middle-aged adults with meniscal tears, with nearly three-quarters achieving good-to-excellent results. Careful patient selection remains key, particularly in degenerative cases.