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Lateral meniscal posterior root tears experience acceptable healing status after transtibial repair technique
Cathrine Aga1, Ingerid Baksaas Aasen2, Carsten Brocker2
1Orthopaedic Department, Martina Hansens Hospital, Baerum, Norway. cathrineaga@gmail.com.
Purpose:
To evaluate patient MRI results, demography and clinical outcome following transtibial repair of lateral and medial meniscal posterior root tears.
Methods:
Patients treated with transtibial repairs of posterior meniscal root tears from 2015 through 2018 performed pre- and postoperative MRI scans. Outcome measures were continuity/discontinuity of the meniscal root and change in meniscal extrusion on MRI. Other outcomes were KOOS, Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale and the Global Rate of Change (GRoC) score for function and pain at follow-up.
Study Design:
Retrospective case-series.
Results:
Of 41 patients, 36 attended follow-up at mean 26 (12-38) months postoperatively. At follow-up, 11 out of 18 lateral meniscus posterior root tear (LMPRT) versus 5 out of 18 medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) repairs were classified as healed. Meniscal extrusion decreased in LMPRTs from of 2.3 ± 1.5 mm to 1.4 ± 1.09 mm (p = 0.080) and increased in MMPRTs from 3.1 ± 1.6 mm to 4.8 ± 1.9 mm (p = 0.005) at FU (between-group difference, p < 0.001). LMPRT repairs were associated with ACL injury and additional meniscal injury and were younger and with lower BMI. No between-group differences were found for KOOS, Lysholm or GRoC Function scores. Tegner scale was higher and GRoC Pain score lower in the LMPRT group compared to the MMPRTs.
Conclusion:
Following transtibial repair for meniscal posterior root repairs, the LMPRTs had a higher frequency of healing, whereas most MMPRTs continued to extrude, despite surgical intervention. The study confirmed that LMPRTs and MMPRTs differ in demography and associated injuries.
Insights
Transtibial repair of lateral meniscus posterior root tears (LMPRTs) showed higher healing rates than medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs). LMPRTs had better pain scores and activity levels post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Sports medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Meniscal posterior root tears often require surgical repair to restore knee function.
- Transtibial repair is a common surgical technique for these injuries.
- Understanding the outcomes of repairing lateral versus medial tears is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate MRI results, patient demographics, and clinical outcomes after transtibial repair of lateral meniscus posterior root tears (LMPRTs) and medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case-series analysis of patients undergoing transtibial repair from 2015-2018.
- Pre- and postoperative MRI scans assessed meniscal root continuity and extrusion.
- Clinical outcomes evaluated using KOOS, Lysholm, Tegner, and Global Rate of Change (GRoC) scores.
Main Results:
- 11/18 LMPRT repairs healed compared to 5/18 MMPRT repairs.
- Meniscal extrusion decreased in LMPRTs but increased in MMPRTs.
- LMPRTs were associated with ACL and other meniscal injuries, younger age, and lower BMI.
- No significant differences in KOOS, Lysholm, or GRoC Function scores between groups.
Conclusions:
- LMPRTs demonstrate a higher healing frequency after transtibial repair compared to MMPRTs.
- MMPRTs often continue to show extrusion post-surgery, indicating incomplete healing.
- Demographic and injury patterns differ significantly between LMPRTs and MMPRTs.
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