Complications after meniscal repair with bioabsorbable arrows: two cases and analysis of literature

Biodegradable implants were introduced in the middle 1990s as a new technique for the arthroscopic treatment of reparable meniscal tears. We have used these implants since 1999 and present two cases of failure of biodegradable meniscal repair implants. One foreign-body reaction with granuloma and one fresh meniscus tear after renewed trauma in the case of receding meniscus arrows with a chondral lesion. We also performed a review of the literature with the Medline database. Meniscus refixation with bioabsorbable arrows is considered reliable but shows various other complications that must be borne in mind.