Methods to Enhance Healing of Meniscal Injuries During Meniscal Repair Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Background Meniscal injuries are the most prevalent knee joint-related complications. They are difficult to cure and often lead to structural damage and osteoarthritis. Since the significance of the meniscus in joint function and disease is recognized, there is a demand for a faster and more effective recovery planning. Aim To conduct a systematic review of different methods that are available to enhance healing of meniscal injuries during meniscal repair procedures. Methods This was a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in orthopedic surgery, faculty of medicine- Ain Shams University. All studies that involve patients with meniscal tears managed by meniscal repair procedures and used different modalities to enhance healing of meniscal injuries were included. Results Thirteen studies were included in the present meta-analysis that incuded a total of 547 patients. Our results supported the clinical and functional advantages of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for meniscal lesions with promising improvements regarding increased success rates and fewer complications in addition to knee-specific patient-reported outcomes. Other modalities including traditional biologic augmentation methods also have been examined and found to improve healing of the meniscus. Conclusion Different augmentation methods particularly PRP are effective options for enhance healing of meniscal injuries during meniscal repair procedures and improved functional scores and clinical outcomes among individuals with symptomatic meniscal lesions. Further studies with a greater number of cases are still needed to establish our conclusions.