Meniscus Tear Management: Indications, Technique, and Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Meniscus tears are common, with historical treatments like partial meniscectomy leading to adverse biomechanical consequences.
• Previous treatments often resulted in increased joint contact forces, post-operative arthritis, and the need for arthroplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in meniscus repair techniques.
• To highlight the importance of the ABCs of repair: Anatomic reduction, Biologic preparation/augmentation, and Circumferential compression.
• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of modern meniscus repair strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on meniscus repair devices and techniques.
• Focus on microfracture, all-inside suture devices, and circumferential compression with clot augmentation.
• Analysis of clinical outcomes including biomechanics, subjective scores, and reoperation rates.

Main Results:

• Modern techniques, including microfracture and all-inside devices, facilitate meniscus repair.
• Circumferential compression with clot augmentation effectively restores biomechanics to near baseline levels.
• Clinical outcomes demonstrate improved joint function, patient satisfaction, and acceptable reoperation rates.

Conclusions:

• The ABCs of meniscus repair provide a framework for successful restorative treatment.
• Advancements in surgical tools and techniques enable meniscus preservation across diverse tear types.
• Restoration of native joint biomechanics is increasingly achievable with modern meniscus repair.