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Results with all-inside meniscal suture in pediatrics
A Schmitt1, F Batisse2, C Bonnard3
1Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, CHU de Tours, avenue de la République, 37000 Tours, France; Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique Infantile, CHU de Tours, Tours, France; Université François-Rabelais, Tours, France.
Insights
Pediatric meniscal repair using FasT-Fix all-inside devices shows high success rates. This technique offers good functional outcomes and knee chondroprotection in children, with a low complication risk.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Pediatric orthopedics
- Sports medicine
Background:
- Meniscal lesions are increasingly diagnosed in children.
- Meniscectomy can have detrimental long-term effects.
- Meniscal repair is preferred to preserve joint function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of FasT-Fix all-inside arthroscopic meniscal repair devices in pediatric patients.
- To compare functional outcomes with other suture techniques.
- To assess the long-term healing and chondroprotective effects.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 19 pediatric patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscal repair with FasT-Fix devices.
- Mean follow-up of 6 years (range 3-9 years).
- Functional outcomes assessed using Lysholm, IKDC, Tegner, and KOOS scores; healing confirmed by MRI, arthroscopy, or CT-arthrography.
Main Results:
- Meniscal survival rate of 89.5% at last follow-up.
- Excellent functional results: Lysholm 95.7/100, subjective IKDC 90.7/100, Tegner 7.64.
- Systematic healing confirmed by imaging.
Conclusions:
- All-inside arthroscopic meniscal repair is a viable option for pediatric patients.
- FasT-Fix devices provide good functional knee outcomes and long-term chondroprotection.
- Low complication rates support the use of this technique in children and adolescents.
Introduction:
Incidence of meniscal lesions is increasing in the pediatric population. Given the harmful impact of meniscectomy, meniscal repair is attempted whenever possible. The present study sought to assess the efficacy of FasT-Fix (Smith and Nephew) all-inside arthroscopic meniscal repair devices in childhood meniscal lesions. The study hypothesis was that functional results would be equivalent to those of other suture techniques.
Material And Methods:
Nineteen patients were assessed following arthroscopic meniscal repair, at a mean 6 years (range: 3-9 years). Mean age was 14.8 years. There was associated ACL tear in 31% of cases. Functional assessment used Lysholm, subjective IKDC, Tegner activity level and KOOS scores. Anatomic assessment of healing used MRI, arthroscopy or CT-arthrography.
Results:
At last follow-up, the meniscal survival rate was 89.5% (n=17/19). Functional results were good: Lysholm: 95.7/100; subjective IKDC: 90.7/100; Tegner: 7.64. Imaging found systematic healing.
Discussion:
All-inside arthroscopic meniscal suture is increasingly used in adults, and can also be implemented in children or adolescents in pediatrics. FasT-Fix (Smith and Nephew) implants, although not always easy to use, ensure a perfectly functional knee and conserve long-term meniscal chondroprotection with a low risk of complications.
Level Of Evidence:
IV, retrospective study.
