Anterior Horn Meniscal Repair Using an Outside-In Suture Technique

The menisci are important structures within the knee that play a critical role in maintaining proper stability, load distribution, and joint lubrication. Injury to the menisci has been found to significantly alter the complex biomechanics of the knee, and thus affect the health and longevity of the native joint. Tears involving the anterior horn are increasingly recognized as an important pathology. Although early treatment of meniscal tears focused primarily on removal of the injured tissue, recent attention on the long-term consequences of partial or total meniscectomy has led to increased attempts at meniscus repair whenever possible. Because of the location of anterior horn tears and the technical difficulty in accessing this location arthroscopically, an outside-in repair technique is ideal for treatment of these lesions. This technical note details our surgical technique of outside-in repair of anterior horn meniscal tears.