Relationships between smoking, high BMI and the results of arthroscopic treatment of isolated medial meniscus tear - a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Because BMI can be adjusted, a greater BMI may be associated with poorer outcomes and an increased risk of surgical complications. Additionally, smoking is another factor that negatively affects the musculoskeletal system, triggering inflammatory processes that hinder healing, complications and lead to poor postoperative outcomes in orthopedic surgery. Although the role of smoking on meniscal tissue has not be fully understood yet, it should be taken into consideration as an important factor affecting the results of meniscus surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between smoking, high BMI, and the outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of isolated medial meniscus.

METHODS

This study involved 239 consecutive patients who underwent knee arthroscopy and met the inclusion criteria: torn medial meniscus, positive specific clinical tests for medial meniscus tear or mechanical symptoms, not relieved by conventional methods– conservative treatment at least of 3 months, torn medial meniscus with various morphology, positive results supported by MRI, the diagnostics with X-ray revealed Kellgren and Lawrence Grade 0 or 1 at the baseline visit, intraoperatively recognized chondromalacia and concomitant medial meniscus tear. Demographic data was collected, including sex, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, education, and previous surgery. The postoperative outcomes were assessed using The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.

RESULTS

A mean preoperative KOOS score was 51.77 for smokers and 51.70 for non-smokers (p = 0.18). On the other hand, the mean postoperative KOOS score was 66.80 for smokers and 66.71 for non-smokers (p = 0.45). Moreover, the mean BMI score was 27.49 in the smokers group and 27.89 in the non-smokers group (p = 0.17).A statistically significant, but weak, correlation was established between the postoperative KOOS Score and BMI value (p = 0.03; r = -0.1355).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found no evidence of an association between smoking and functional outcomes following arthroscopic medial meniscus tear treatment. Moreover, patients’ postoperative functional outcomes with growing BMI are deteriorated, and additionally BMI values were increasing with age.