[Meniscus refixation: suture or anchor?]

Suture techniques are the standard for fixation of meniscus bucket-handle lesions. In 1993 a new method for meniscus repair with self-reinforced biodegradable "arrows" was introduced. Currently, various meniscus implants are available in Germany and are widely used clinically. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate and discuss the literature on biodegradable meniscus implants. Relevant articles were retrieved from Medline of the National Library of Medicine (1966 until July 2000) using the combined search strategy for the keywords "meniscal repair" and "arrow." Ten publications were found. The reported advantages of meniscus arrows are the reduced operation time, the easy surgical technique, and the reduced risk of neurovascular injury. In most experimental studies, lower failure strength of meniscus arrows was found compared to meniscus sutures. In clinical studies, the meniscal healing rates comparing the arrow technique and suture technique are comparable. Various complications of the new arrow technique have been reported such as inflammatory foreign-body reaction, cartilage lesions, and arrow displacement. Based on the existing literature, no final judgment is possible. Currently, individual indications depending on the kind of meniscal lesion and location are recommended. A combination of suture and arrow technique might be a treatment option, but further prospective randomized studies and longer follow-ups are necessary.