Arthroscopic Medial Meniscus Root Repair With Transtibial Ripstop Technique

Meniscal root tears are radial tears occurring at or within 1 cm of the meniscal root attachment. These injuries have been shown to be the biomechanical equivalent of a total meniscectomy and are thought to be responsible for a rapid progression of osteoarthritis if left untreated.

Meniscal root repair is indicated if possible, with the exception of patients who have diffuse Outerbridge 3-4 osteoarthritis of the ipsilateral compartment, those who are poor surgical candidates due to age or medical comorbidity, or in whom nonsymptomatic tears are found incidentally.

Standard 2-portal arthroscopy is performed. Once a medial root tear has been identified and concomitant pathology has been addressed, we typically begin the repair by trephinating the deep medial collateral ligament with an 18-gauge needle to enhance visualization and avoid iatrogenic cartilage injury. Arthroscopic shaver is used to debride the meniscal root as needed. A meniscal root guide is introduced into the joint and an incision is made on the anteromedial tibia for outside-in drilling of a transosseous tunnel. Drilling is performed with a 5-mm retroreaming device, and a 10-mm socket is created. Nonabsorbable suture is then passed through the meniscus using a self-capture device in an inverted mattress configuration, following by 2 cinch stitches. The sutures are then shuttled into the transosseous tunnel, and the meniscal root is reduced and tensioned in full extension, with the sutures being fixated into a suture anchor on the anteromedial tibia.

A recent large systematic review of 1086 patients undergoing treatment of meniscal root tear via either debridement or nonoperative management compared with meniscal repair found that conversion to total knee arthroplasty occurred in 11% to 54% of those managed via debridement or nonoperative care versus 0% to 1% for those with root repair.

Currently, meniscal root repair offers the greatest improvement and lowest risk of conversion to arthroplasty following meniscal root tear. The present technique offers a durable repair that we believe combines ease of execution with decreased risk of suture pull-out, by creating a ripstop-type construct. Long-term outcome studies are needed for this and other root repair techniques.