Meniscal repair encompasses various techniques of surgically closing up a tear in the meniscus.
Suitability for meniscal repair
There are nowadays special instruments, sutures and fixation devices that make repair possible, but not all tears are suitable for repair. The most suitable are likely to be longitudinal tears of the medial meniscus towards the outer rim of the meniscus where the blood supply is best.
Outcomes of meniscal repair
In general outcomes of meniscal repair are good, with the majority of athletes being able to return to sport. Occasionally the repair fails and may need revision. Sometimes there are complications, such as damage to superficial nerves and knee stiffness caused by local arthrofibrotic scar tissue..
CLINICAL PUBLICATIONS
Meniscus tear surgery and meniscus replacement. Vaquero J and Forriol F. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2016 Jan-Mar; 6(1): 71–89.
Clinical outcome of meniscus repair for isolated meniscus tear in athletes. Nakayama H, Kanto R, Kambara S, Kurosaka K, Onishi, S, Yoshiya S and Yamaguchi, M. Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol. 2017 Oct; 10: 4–7.
Potential Market for New Meniscus Repair Strategies: Evaluation of the MOON Cohort. Fetzer GB et al. J Knee Surg. 2009 Jul; 22(3): 180–186.
Complications in Brief: Meniscus Repair. Gwathmey FW, Jr, Golish R and Diduch DR.et al. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012 Jul; 470(7): 2059–2066.
See also -
- Inside-out technique
- Outside-in technique
- All-inside technique
- Meniscal fixation device
- Meniscal repair augmentation