A Comparative Study of Clinical Outcomes of Arthroscopic Meniscal Surgery in Relation to Anxiety and Patient Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 103 patients who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery at the National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center and Grandmed Hospital between 2020 and 2023. This study examined the short-term clinical outcomes of the surgery in terms of anxiety and satisfaction. Arthroscopic knee surgery is an effective treatment, providing short-term pain relief and improved function. Arthroscopic meniscal surgery is a minimally invasive procedure aimed at reducing pain, restoring functional activity, and preventing irreversible degenerative changes of the knee joint. In recent years, the incidence of meniscal injuries, associated knee pain, functional impairment, and progressive joint degeneration changes has steadily increased. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate short-term clinical outcomes of arthroscopic meniscal surgery for meniscal tears and to compare these outcomes in relation to anxiety and patient satisfaction. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted between 2020 and 2023, including 103 patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal surgery at the National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center and Grandmed Hospital. Among them, 69 patients underwent partial meniscectomy, and 34 patients underwent meniscal repair. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) before and after surgery. Results: Significant improvements were observed in all KOOS subscale scores postoperatively compared with preoperative values. Mean scores for pain improved from 57.93±12.58 to 80.93±5.70, symptoms from 54.13±12.73 to 80.27±6.22, activities of daily living from 61.28±13.19 to 79.61±4.91, sport and recreation from 42.28±13.21 to 72.04±6.88, and knee-related quality of life from 45.08±12.46 to 77.85±7.96, all demonstrating statistically significant improvement. Conclusion: Arthroscopic meniscal surgery demonstrates favorable short-term clinical outcomes, effectively reducing pain and improving knee function and quality of life. These findings support the effectiveness of arthroscopic intervention and highlight the importance of considering psychological factors such as anxiety and patient satisfaction in postoperative evaluation.