Meniscus repair: considerations in treatment and update of clinical results

The meniscus plays an important role in the function of the knee. Preservation of the meniscus is preferred if possible when considering treatment of a meniscus tear. A thorough understanding of the anatomy of the meniscus, the structure, the mechanics, and other factors of meniscal healing are critical when evaluating the torn meniscus for a reparative procedure. Many options for meniscus repair exist for the orthopaedist. Options such as open repair or arthroscopically-assisted inside-out techniques have long-term favorable results. The all-inside techniques are attractive because of the decrease in operative time and ease of the technique. Short-term results are positive for the all-inside technique; however, good long-term data on these techniques are lacking. Few well-designed prospective studies exist on any of the meniscus repair techniques. Future directions include the potential use of growth factors and gene therapy to augment meniscus repair.