Meniscus tears in professional soccer athletes: resect or repair?

IntroductionMeniscal tears in professional soccer players, may lead to decreased game time and potentially affect their career and quality of life in the long term. Advancements in surgical techniques and increased duration of many elite soccer players’ career may necessitate re-evaluation of the treatment strategies.ObjectivesTo review the current literature regarding surgical management of meniscal tears in professional soccer players.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed has been conducted. Studies in English, reporting results of surgical management of meniscal tears or meniscal deficiency in professional soccer players were included. Studies not mentioning return to play (RTP), not examining professional soccer players or not published in English were excluded.ResultsFollowing meniscus repair, an 82% to 90% RTP is reported. Mean time to RTP has been reported from 4.3 to 5.5 months. The outcomes of a single study reporting partial meniscectomy results in professional soccer athletes were 100% RTP at a mean of 1.5 months. Successful results with RTP 92.3 to 100% after salvage procedures such as meniscal allograft transplantation or collagen meniscal implant has been reported, Mean time to RTP stood at 10 to 11.8 months. In addition, knee osteoarthritis is more common after lateral meniscectomy in comparison to medial meniscectomy in the long-term follow-up.ConclusionSurgical management of meniscal lesions in professional soccer players is the mainstay of treatment. Partial meniscectomy may offer temporary relief and fast RTP. Meniscal repair requires a longer rehabilitation period but may have a chondroprotective effect on the knee. Explicit player consultation and individualized approach may lead to optimal outcomes.