Patient-Reported Outcomes After Surgically Treated Anterior Horn Tears in the Pediatric Discoid Meniscus

Background: As a subset of symptomatic discoid lateral meniscal (DLM) tears, anterior horn (AH) meniscal tears are not well studied in the pediatric population. There are even fewer studies reporting patient-reported outcomes after surgical treatment of AH tears in DLM. Purpose: To compare reported outcomes after surgical treatment of DLM tears involving the AH versus other locations in pediatric patients. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively collected patient data between 2013 and 2020 was conducted. Patients aged <18 years who underwent arthroscopic treatment of a symptomatic DLM were included. Pathology was classified as tears of the AH or tears not involving the anterior horn (NAH). Demographic data along with patient-reported outcome scores (Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee [Pedi-IKDC] and Patient Assessment Questionnaire [PAQ]) were collected preoperatively through 24 months of follow-up. Results: A total of 41 patients were included (median age, 12.9 years; range, 7-17 years; 32% female, 68% male). The mean follow-up time for was 25 months (range, 8-58 months). There were 17 (41%) patients in the AH group and 24 (59%) patients in the NAH group. Of the AH group, 16 (94%) were treated with meniscal repair (vs menisectomy), while 19 (79%) of the NAH group were treated with meniscal repair. All patients achieved significant pre- to postoperative improvement on both the Pedi-IKDC and the PAQ. At 24-month follow-up, there were no differences between the AH and NAH groups on the Pedi-IKDC (92.51 vs 89.72; P = .18) or the PAQ (2.57 vs 2.61; P = .06). Conclusion: Patients who underwent meniscal repair for AH DLM reported positive postoperative outcomes.