Although arthroscopic meniscus repair is the definitive treatment for meniscal tears, some patients have the fear of undergoing such surgery. In this study, we hypothesized that patients with meniscal tears would have a specific reason to avoid arthroscopic meniscus repair and that those who had opted for or avoided surgery would differ in terms of sociodemographic data, preoperative concerns regarding surgery, and/or functional status. A total of 176 patients (32 males, 144 females; mean age: 46.32±11.80 years) were included in the study. All patients had been diagnosed with meniscal tears by clinical and radiological examinations (X-ray, MRI) and recommended surgical treatment between 2018 and 2020. A single question was asked to the patients: “Why would you like to avoid surgery?” and their answers were recorded. In 63.6% of the patients, the reason for avoiding surgery was the fear of not being able to walk. Similarly, 59.1% of the patients stated that they had a fear of getting worse after surgery. More than half (54.5%) of the patients said that they knew people who had undergone similar surgery and did not benefit from it. A great majority (90.9%) of the patients stated that they had concerns about being bedridden after surgery. The proportion of the patients who thought no one would take care of their children if they had an operation was 27.3%. About 80% of the patients inquired whether they could receive an alternative conservative treatment before the surgery. Over half (59.1%) of the patients thought that they would not recover even if they underwent surgery. The most obvious reason for patients avoiding surgery was the fear of getting worse than the current state.
Key words: Avoidance, meniscus, surgery, tear
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