Abstract

Meniscal tears occur frequently among young adults, and usually surgery is necessary to get the knee functional again and avoid osteoarthritis in the long term. Two main surgical approaches, which are meniscal repair and partial meniscectomy, provide varying short and long-term outcomes. This review aimed to conduct a systematic review and compare the results presented by meniscal repair and partial meniscectomy in young adults aged between 18 and 40 years, with failure rates, patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores such as IKDC and Lysholm, osteoarthritis development assessed using radiographic or MRI images, and return-to-sport rates. Cohort studies, quasi-experimental trials, and prospective studies that were published between 2019 and 2025 were searched. Ten pertinent studies with more than 1,500 patients were incorporated. Meniscal repair was superior in saving knee biomechanics and decreasing the osteoarthritis progression in long-term follow-up. Interventions were similar in terms of PROMs, with partial meniscectomy having a quicker short-term recovery. Repair resulted in high reoperation rates but had low rates of complications. The interventions were similar in terms of returning to sport and repair exhibited benefits in high-demand athletic groups. Young adults who undergone meniscal repair had good long-term outcomes in preservation of the joint and functional outcomes, although there was a slightly higher likelihood of reoperation. Partial meniscectomy is indicated as an option in cases of quick relief of symptoms. More high-quality, prospective studies should be conducted to maximize the process of patient selection and long-term outcomes.

Key words: Meniscal repair, partial meniscectomy, young adults, patient-reported outcomes, reoperation, return to sport, systematic review.