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Clinical outcomes of medial meniscus posterior root repair: A midterm follow-up study
Takayuki Furumatsu1, Shinichi Miyazawa1, Yuya Kodama1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
Background:
Transtibial pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) cannot prevent the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Conversions of knee arthroplasties are occasionally required following MMPRT repair. However, other knee-related surgical treatments following MMPRT repair are unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the midterm clinical outcomes and knee-related surgical events following MMPRT repair.
Methods:
Patients with MMPRT underwent pullout repair using FasT-Fix modified Mason-Allen (F-MMA) suturing with an all-inside meniscal repair device. Thirty-two patients with follow-up duration >2 years were enrolled. We assessed the clinical outcomes and postoperative surgical treatment of both knees.
Results:
F-MMA pullout repair improved all clinical evaluation scores in patients with MMPRT at a mean follow-up of 36.1 months. Postoperative arthroscopic debridement was required for one patient. An additional MMPRT repair was performed in one patient on second-look arthroscopy. None of the patients required ipsilateral knee arthroplasty. In the contralateral knees, one pullout repair of a newly developed MMPRT and two knee arthroplasties were performed.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated that F-MMA pullout repair yielded satisfactory clinical outcomes. However, subsequent knee-related surgeries were observed in 6.3% of the pullout-repaired knees and 9.4% of the contralateral knees. Our results suggest that surgeons should be aware of the worsening and/or occurrence of contralateral knee joint disease, even when the postoperative clinical outcomes are satisfactory following MMPRT repair.
Level Of Evidence:
IV.
Insights
FasT-Fix modified Mason-Allen (F-MMA) pullout repair of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) shows good midterm results. However, some patients needed further knee surgery, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Knee Biomechanics
Background:
- Medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs) can progress to osteoarthritis, sometimes necessitating knee arthroplasty.
- The need for other knee surgeries after MMPRT repair is not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the midterm clinical outcomes of MMPRT repair using FasT-Fix modified Mason-Allen (F-MMA) suturing.
- To evaluate subsequent knee-related surgical events following F-MMA pullout repair for MMPRTs.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-two patients with MMPRTs underwent F-MMA pullout repair.
- Clinical outcomes and postoperative surgical treatments were assessed over a minimum 2-year follow-up period.
Main Results:
- F-MMA pullout repair significantly improved clinical scores at a mean 36.1-month follow-up.
- No ipsilateral knee arthroplasties were required; however, 6.3% of repaired knees needed further surgery.
- Contralateral knees showed new MMPRTs or required arthroplasty in 9.4% of cases.
Conclusions:
- F-MMA pullout repair offers satisfactory midterm clinical outcomes for MMPRTs.
- A small percentage of patients require subsequent ipsilateral knee surgery.
- Surgeons must monitor for contralateral knee disease progression despite successful ipsilateral repair.
