Lateral Meniscus Posterior Root Tear Repair With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: High Healing Rate and...

Lateral meniscal posterior root tears (LMPRTs) affect knee stability and load distribution. LMPRT repair with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) demonstrated favorable functional outcomes and a high meniscal healing rate. However, most studies have reported only short-term follow-up results.

To evaluate the long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes of LMPRT repairs with ACLR.

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Inclusion criteria consisted of patients who underwent LMPRT repair and hamstring ACLR from 2005 to 2019. Exclusion criteria were patients without postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), patients followed for <4 years, and patients who had reinjury. Healing of the repaired LMPRT was evaluated, and extrusion of the midbody of the lateral meniscus was measured by MRI. Joint space width (JSW) of the lateral compartment on the Rosenberg view was measured and compared preoperatively and at follow-up. Lysholm score and Tegner activity scale were compared between preoperative and follow-up periods.

Thirty-four patients were included, with a mean follow-up period of 96.8 ± 45.9 months (range, 48-200 months). Tear patterns of the LMPRT were classified into oblique (n = 22) and complex (n = 12) types. Follow-up MRI showed complete healing in 27, partial in 4, and none in 3. Follow-up extrusion was not significantly different from preoperative extrusion (1.31 ± 1.35 mm vs 1.46 ± 1.41 mm, P = .646). Preoperative lateral JSW did not show a significant decrease compared to follow-up lateral JSW (6.2 ± 1.1 mm vs 5.9 ± 0.8 mm, P = .18). Preoperative Lysholm score and Tegner activity scale improved significantly at follow-up (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively).

At a mean 8-year follow-up, LMPRT repair with ACLR led to significant functional improvement and 91.1% complete or partial healing.