Cost-effective technique for medial meniscus posterior root tear repair

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of medial meniscus posterior root repair by transosseous pull-out sutures, relying on readily available tools. Patients and methods Thirty-four patients, aged between 18 and 49 years old of both sexes, with isolated post-traumatic meniscal root tear, operated between September 2013 and September 2015, were prospectively evaluated clinically in terms of Lysholm and Tegner scoring systems. Successful repair was measured by improvement of gap sign, ghost sign, and meniscal extrusion. Results The study group had 18 females and 16 males, mean age was 40.8±6.9 years, mean BMI was 30.5±4.9 kg/m2. The mean follow-up duration was 24.5 months. Lysholm and Tegner scores improved significantly (P=0.000). Complete healing occurred in 20 cases (P=0.000), and partial healing in 10 cases (P=0.000), failure occurred in four cases. Both absolute and relative meniscal extrusion decreased by −1.2±1.5 mm (P=0.01) and −0.12±0.15 (P=0.007), respectively. Conclusions Meniscal root repair by transosseous pull-out suture is a cost-effective and reproducible technique that yields good structural and functional results. This was objectively confirmed both functionally and radiologically in 88% of cases fixed by this technique.