Prognostic Factors on Preoperative MRI for Patient-Reported Outcomes After Posterior Medial Meniscus Root Repair

Abstract

Background: Repair of posterior medial meniscus root (PMMR) tears has demonstrated favorable outcomes and may prevent rapid progression of knee osteoarthritis; however, there is a paucity of data regarding prognostic factors affecting postoperative outcomes. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to identify factors on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that predict postoperative outcomes after PMMR repair. It was hypothesized that patients with increasing levels of degenerative changes as evaluated through semiquantitative preoperative MRI scans would have worse postoperative patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Patients who underwent PMMR repair between 2012 and 2020 and had minimum 2-year follow-up data were enrolled. Pre- and postoperative visual analog scale pain scores and postoperative PRO surveys including the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System–Physical Function, Lysholm knee score, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were collected. Patients who achieved the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) on the KOOS subscales were reported. Two fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed preoperative MRIs and calculated the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score for meniscus, cartilage, bone marrow edema–like lesions (BMELL), and meniscal extrusion. Statistical analysis was performed using the 2-sample t test, Mann-Whitney test, and Fisher exact test for categorical variables. Results: A total of 29 knees in 29 patients were evaluated (22 female, 7 male; mean age at surgery, 52.3 ± 9.9 years; body mass index, 27.6 ± 5.6 kg/m2; mean follow-up, 59.6 ± 26.5 months). Visual analog scale for pain scores decreased significantly from preoperatively (4.9 ± 2.0) to final follow-up (1.6 ± 1.9) (P