Introduction The purpose of this study is to identify patient, meniscus rupture and surgical characteristics that influence the outcome and clinical healing following operative repair of bucket handle tears. Methods Between 02/2006 and 10/2012, a total of 38 patients (14 women, 24 men) with bucket handle tears underwent surgical meniscus repair. There were 27 isolated repairs and 11 with concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) replacement. Patients were analyzed on an average of 44.4 months (range 15–96 months) after surgery by the use of standardized subjective scoring instruments Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and Tegner Activity Scale (TAS). To identify factors affecting the outcome and suture survival, patient-specific, trauma-specific as well as meniscus- and surgery-specific factors were collected. Patients were divided in two groups with healed menisci (group 1) and re-rupture subjects (group 2). Meniscus re-rupture was defined as a clinical failure. Results There were 25 patients with healed menisci and 13 (34.2%) that sustained re-rupture and underwent either partial meniscectomy ( n  = 8) or re-suture ( n  = 5). Group 1 achieved slightly higher outcome compared to group 2 Lysholm: 87.8 vs. 84.3 ( p  = 0.35), IKDC: 86.9 vs. 85.7 ( p  = 0.67), KOOS: 91.3 vs. 90.5 ( p  = 0.74). TAS was better for group 2 5.9 vs. 6.8 ( p  = 0.36). Strong impact to result in a significantly increased outcome was identified for higher age, subjective knee joint stability, high preoperative Lysholm Score, short trauma-to-repair time, previous ACL reconstruction and a smaller number of sutures to fulfill meniscus repair. Lower patient age, male gender and higher activity level had the strongest impact to provoke re-rupture. Conclusion Clinical outcome after meniscus bucket handle suture is satisfying. Re-rupture rate among this collective was 34.2%. Clear risk factors were identified for diminished clinical healing and outcome.