Peroneal nerve dysfunction as a complication of lateral meniscus repair: a case report and anatomic dissection

A case report is presented in which a complete peroneal nerve palsy complicated lateral meniscus repair. The meniscal repair was performed using the combined method of arthroscopically placed inside-out needles and a posterior incision to view their exit. A cadaver limb was then used to examine the anatomy of lateral meniscus repair. Needles used for meniscus repair were passed into the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus using the inside-out and the outside-in methods. Computerized axial tomography (CAT) was then used to establish the proximity of the needles to the peroneal nerve in the posterolateral corner. The inside-out needles were dangerously close to the peroneal nerve. The outside-in needles had a larger margin of safety. The posterolateral corner was then dissected to verify and photograph these relationships.