Arthroscopic meniscus repair with a posterior incision

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Knee Arthroscopy

Background:

• Meniscus tears are common knee injuries, often requiring surgical intervention.
• Traditional repair methods have varying success rates, necessitating improved techniques.
• The transarticular arthroscopic approach with posterior incision offers a potential solution for unstable meniscus tears.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a transarticular arthroscopic approach with a posterior incision for repairing unstable meniscus tears.
• To determine the success rate and failure rate of this surgical technique.
• To identify factors influencing meniscus healing, such as blood clot injections and timing with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of meniscus repairs performed between November 1983 and November 1986 using a transarticular arthroscopic approach with a posterior incision.
• Inclusion criteria focused on unstable meniscus tears, with specific contraindications noted.
• Evaluation of repair success based on subjective failure rates and objective healing of rim widths.

Main Results:

• The technique successfully repaired over 98% of encountered unstable meniscus tears.
• A clinically stable bond was achieved in most cases, with a subjective failure rate of 2% or less.
• A trend towards improved healing was observed with blood clot injections, especially for isolated and lateral meniscus tears within eight weeks of ACL reconstruction, achieving rim widths up to 5 mm.

Conclusions:

• The transarticular arthroscopic approach with a posterior incision is a highly effective method for repairing a vast majority of unstable meniscus tears.
• This technique provides stable healing with a low failure rate, making it a valuable option in knee arthroscopy.
• Blood clot injections may enhance meniscus healing, particularly in conjunction with ACL reconstruction.