RecruitingNot Applicable

Evaluation of Survival and Clinical Outcomes of Patients Treated With Isolated All-inside Meniscal Sutures or With Meniscal Sutures Associated With Ligament Reconstruction

Italy300 participantsStarted 2026-02-25

Plain-language summary

Meniscal tears are among the most common injuries of the knee joint. The average annual incidence is between 60 and 70 cases per 100,000 people. Among young athletes, these injuries account for 20-30% of all knee injuries, while in individuals over 50 they are frequently present even without symptoms (up to 60%). Meniscal tears often coexist with other intra-articular injuries: about one third of all cases occur together with an ACL rupture, which significantly increases the likelihood of a meniscal lesion. Possible treatments range from total meniscectomy, partial or selective meniscectomy, to meniscal suturing. Compared with meniscectomy, meniscal repair preserves meniscal function and reduces the risk of progression to knee osteoarthritis from 51.42% (after meniscectomy) to 21.28% in patients who undergo meniscal repair. The main meniscal suture techniques are classified as inside-out, outside-in, and all-inside. The present study aims to analyze the failure rates in patients who underwent meniscal repair using the all-inside technique at a single referral center, evaluating the complication rate, the need for reoperation, and the clinical satisfaction of the operated patients. The results obtained aim to improve the understanding of the effectiveness of all-inside meniscal sutures-electively used at our referral center-compared with inside-out techniques. The purpose of this study is to collect and analyze the cases of patients surgically treated with all-inside sutures for isolated meniscal tears or tears associated with other ligament injuries. The goal is to evaluate the survival and reoperation rates in patients who underwent all-inside meniscal repair for isolated meniscal injuries or those associated with ligament injuries, aged between 12 and 65 years, operated on at the II Clinic of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute between 01/01/2017 and 30/06/2025, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

Who can participate

Age range

12 Years – 65 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Both male and female patients. * Patients who underwent meniscal repair surgery using the all-inside technique for isolated meniscal lesions or lesions associated with ligament injuries between 01/01/2017 and 30/06/2025, with a minimum follow-up of two years. * Patients aged between 12 and 65 years at the time of surgery. * Patients who have provided consent to participate in the study. * Patients who underwent preoperative radiological investigations (MRI) of the affected knee showing meniscal lesions requiring surgical treatment, also confirmed during diagnostic arthroscopy. Exclusion Criteria: * Meniscal lesions resulting from previous meniscal repairs. * Patients younger than 12 years or older than 65 years at the time of surgery. * Patients who did not provide informed consent. * Patients who are no longer contactable. * Patients who did not engage in sports activity in the 2 years prior to surgery

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Survival rate

Timeframe: 24 months after surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07289412

SponsorStefano Zaffagnini

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2027-12

Contact for this trial

stefano zaffagnini

0516366075 stefano.zaffagnini@ior.it

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Suture, Complication trials