Double-Needle Meniscal Suture Technique: Technical Description and Clinical Application in Dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Canine Knee Joint Biomechanics

Background:

• Current treatments for medial meniscus lesions accompanying cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) ruptures yield suboptimal long-term results.
• Meniscal suturing offers potential for improved outcomes but faces limited clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a minimally invasive device, the DNT, for facilitating meniscal suturing in dogs.
• To assess the DNT's practicability in conjunction with joint distraction for canine stifle surgery.

Main Methods:

• Ten stifles from eight dogs with diagnosed CCL disease and medial meniscal tears underwent arthroscopic evaluation.
• A specific suture technique was employed using the Titan joint distractor for joint distraction.
• The DNT was utilized to aid in precise suture placement within the meniscus.
• All stifles received surgical stabilization via an X-Porous Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) procedure.

Main Results:

• The DNT enabled accurate placement of sutures in the medial meniscus.
• Minor intraoperative complications included transiently reduced arthroscopic visibility (n=2) and suture breakage (n=3).
• No meniscal suture-related complications were observed during the six-month follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• The DNT is a practical and effective tool for suturing caudal horn medial meniscus lesions in dogs.
• Adequate intraoperative visualization is crucial for successful DNT application.
• Postoperative stifle stabilization is essential to protect sutures and prevent new meniscal damage.