All-Inside Repair of Complex Posterior Horn Meniscus Tears

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Knee Arthroscopy
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Managing complex meniscus tears, especially with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, is challenging due to location and tear patterns.
• Arthroscopic all-inside repair offers a solution for these difficult cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present techniques and tips for arthroscopic all-inside repair of complex meniscus tears.
• To illustrate the application of these techniques in clinical cases.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing specific arthroscopic portals (anterolateral, anteromedial, accessory anterolateral) for optimal access.
• Employing horizontal mattress, vertical mattress, and cerclage sutures with all-inside devices to approximate tear edges.
• Abrading tear edges to promote healing and restoring native hoop stresses.

Main Results:

• Meniscus repair demonstrates superior long-term outcomes over partial meniscectomy, improving knee function and reducing osteoarthritis progression.
• All-inside repair offers advantages such as reduced neurovascular risk, shorter operative time, and preservation of native meniscus structure.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic all-inside meniscus repair is a safe and efficient method for managing complex meniscus tears in active patients.
• This technique can be performed concurrently with knee ligament surgery, serving as a versatile surgical option.