Evaluating the Outcome of Meniscus Root Repair Surgery in Patients with Degenerative Meniscus Posterior Root Tears

Transtibial pullout repair provides significant clinical improvement in individuals with meniscal root tears; however, there is no consensus on radiological outcomes. In this research, meniscal extrusion and clinical status were evaluated in a homogeneous series of subjects with degenerative medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT).

This retrospective-prospective study was conducted on 16 subjects with degenerative posterior root tears of the medial meniscus who underwent transtibial pullout repair at Shafa Yahyaian Hospital from March 2017 to February 2021. The study population included two males and 14 females. The average age of the study participants was 50.9 ± 11 years. ‏The patients were followed up for an average of ‏‎19.7±14.8‎‏ months. ‏The Lysholm knee scoring scale was used for clinical evaluation of the knee. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) was used both before and after surgery to assess the improvement in meniscal extrusion. ‎.

The average total Lysholm knee score increased from ‎49.6±10.5 to 79.1±11.1 (P<0.001). The knee status was poor in one subject, fair in ten subjects, good in two subjects, and excellent in three subjects. In the last follow-up session, all subscales of the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale showed improvement. The mean meniscal extrusion was 5.7±1.8 mm before surgery and 3.4±2.5 mm after surgery based on MRI results (P=0.008). Improvement in Lysholm score was not correlated with improvement in meniscal extrusion.

Transtibial pullout ‎repair provides significant clinical improvement in degenerative meniscal root tears, even in individuals in whom the meniscal extrusion is not reversed.