Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair and Partial Meniscectomy in Degenerative Meniscal Tears: A Comparative Study on Pain Relief, Functional Outcomes and Postoperative Complications

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a progressive joint disorder, with degenerative meniscal tears being a common contributing factor. Surgical interventions such as Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair (AMR) and Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy (APM) are widely performed; however, their long-term impact on joint health remains a topic of debate. Aim: To compare the pain relief, functional outcomes, and complication rates of AMR versus APM in individuals diagnosed with early-stage primary OA and degenerative meniscal tears. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based observational comparative study conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, from June 2023 to May 2025. A total of 70 participants were included, with 35 patients assigned to the AMR group (Group A) and 35 patients to the APM group (Group B). Postoperative pain levels and functional recovery were assessed using the Lysholm Knee Score (LKS) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Statistical analysis was performed utilising IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0, considering a p-value of less than 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 51.41±4.9 years. Patients in the AMR group demonstrated significantly lower VAS scores (p-value=0.0001) and higher LKS scores (p-value=0.0001) compared to the APM group, indicating superior pain relief and functional recovery. Complication rates were also lower in the AMR group (p-value=0.046). However, surgical duration was comparable between both groups (p-value=0.372). Conclusion: Meniscal preservation through AMR provides superior functional recovery and pain relief compared to APM, with a lower risk of postoperative complications. These findings reinforce the importance of meniscal preservation in optimising long-term joint health in patients with degenerative meniscal tears. Further, multicentre studies with extended follow-up are required to validate these results and assess the long-term progression of OA postmeniscal surgery