中老年膝内侧半月板后角放射裂的临床研究

目的讨论膝内侧半月板后角放射状撕裂的临床特点和关节镜下半月板部分切除术后的随访结果。方法自2000年6月至2006年6月对386例（418膝）关节镜下治疗的膝内侧半月板撕裂患者进行回顾性研究,其中后角放射状撕裂93膝（22．2％）,全部行半月板部分切除术。在详细的手术记录和关节镜图像资料基础上,分析患者术前体征、MRI结果、术中所见和术后Lysholm膝关节评分。结果中老年患者中膝内侧半月板后角放射状撕裂有较高的发生率,大多数患者表现出机械卡压或撞击症状,MRI很难发现这种撕裂,有特点的疼痛症状和物理检查有助于诊断。虽然大多数患者年龄较大,关节软骨已发生退变,但关节镜下半月板部分切除术后,症状会明显改善。结论膝内侧半月板放射状撕裂比较常见,但因为多数患者同时伴有骨关节炎症状,且MRI上假阴性率较高,诊断比较困难。在严格掌握手术指征下,关节镜下半月板部分切除术有助于改善症状。     

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of a posteriorly flipped superior leaflet in a horizontal medial meniscus tear using a posterior transseptal portal

This article describes a case of an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of a posteriorly flipped superior leaflet in a horizontal medial meniscus tear using the posterior transseptal portal. An arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for bucket handle or flap tears in medial or lateral compartments using ordinary portals is a relatively common procedure in irreparable cases. However, the posterior compartment of the knee is not readily accessible through ordinary arthroscopic portals. Therefore, it has been considered a blind spot. Through the posterior transseptal portal, surgeons can achieve excellent arthroscopic visualization of the posterior compartment and easily perform arthroscopic procedures of the posterior compartment of the knee. A 48-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of pain in the medial aspect of the right knee joint. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thinning of the medial meniscus posterior horn in coronal images and a sharp-edged triangle arising from the medial meniscus posterior horn between the medial femoral condyle and medial meniscus posterior horn on sagittal images (flipped-over sign). During the arthroscopic procedure, we found that the flipped leaflet was displaced posteriorly and was not mobile between the medial femoral condyle and medial meniscus posterior horn. Partial meniscectomy for a posteriorly displaced fragment can be performed successfully using the posterior transseptal portal. The posterior transseptal portal is useful for an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of a posteriorly flipped leaflet in the posterior compartment of the knee.     

Bilateral Discoid Medial Menisci

Summary: This article adds 2 more cases of bilateral discoid medial menisci to the previously reported 9 cases. The radiographs of the first case revealed bilateral cupping of the medial tibial plateaus and a small lytic lesion of the left distal medial femoral metaphysis. Beside the posteriorly unstable incomplete type discoid medial meniscus, the left knee had several associated arthroscopic findings: depression of the medial tibial plateau with exposed subchondral bone, anomalous insertion of the anterior horn of the discoid meniscus to the anterior cruciate ligament, a pathological medial plica, and longitudinal deep fissures in the trochlea. The second case was a complete type with peripheral horizontal cleavage tears. Following arthroscopic surgery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the contralateral knees were obtained in both cases to search for bilaterality. MRI revealed discoid medial menisci in the unoperated knees as well. The short-term results of arthroscopic meniscectomy may not be as satisfactory as those reported for normal menisci.Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 16, No 1 (January-February), 2000: pp 96–101     

The posteromedial portal in knee arthroscopy: An analysis of diagnostic and surgical utility

We reviewed 400 consecutive knee arthroscopy cases in a predominantly sports medicine practice to determine (1) the frequency of posteromedial portal usage under a prospectively established set of indications, and (2) the impact of posteromedial portal access on patient diagnosis and management. Diagnostic posteromedial portals were used in 22% of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knees, and in 11% of stable knees with nonpatellar (usually meniscal) lesions. When used, posteromedial portal visualization showed treatable lesions 64% of the time, the majority of which were repairable peripheral meniscus tears. In 63% of these cases, no definite lesion had been identified by initial routine anterior portal viewing and probing. Of the 22 patients with posteromedial meniscus tears that were discovered only via posteromedial portal access, 9 had recently undergone anterior portal arthroscopy by other surgeons, during which none of these tears were detected. Posteromedial surgical portals (19 cases) were most useful for synovectomy, posterior cruciate stump resection before arthroscopic reconstruction, and posterior horn medial meniscectomy in exceptionally tight knees. Posteromedial portal access is often useful diagnostically in cases where (1) posteromedial meniscal lesions are frequent (i.e., ACL-deficient knees) and/or suspected on the basis of preoperative symptoms or imaging studies, and (2) full, direct visualization of the entire superior meniscosynovial junction is not possible via standard anterior portals. The option of a surgical posteromedial portal should be entertained whenever frontal approaches for posteromedial instrument work prove inefficient or unsuccessful.     

Fifteen-year follow-up of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy

From an original pool of 283 patients, 146 patients who had undergone arthroscopic partial meniscectomy an average of 14.7 years before were followed-up. Lysholm score, Tegner activity level, satisfaction index on a scale of 1 to 10, and standing anteroposterior and flexion weight-bearing radiographs of both knees, were obtained. A physical examination was performed on each knee emphasizing motion, swelling, and ligament evaluation. Radiographs were graded for degenerative changes for each knee. Each knee joint space was also measured in millimeters and compared, operative knee with unoperated knee. The unoperated knee had no injuries or surgeries and was used as a control. Patients were 83% male and 17% female; 78% had undergone medial meniscectomies, 19% lateral, and 3% both. There were 88% good and excellent results in anterior cruciate liagment—stable knees. The radiographic grade side-to-side difference showed the operative knee to be only a 0.23 grade worse than the nonoperative knee. Age at the time of meniscectomy was not found to be a factor. Male patients had better radiographic results than female patients, but not better functional scores. Medial meniscus and lateral meniscus results were not significantly different. Knees with a femoral-tibial anatomic alignment of >0° valgus compared with ≤0° and that had undergone medial meniscectomy had significantly better radiographic results. Patients with anterior cruciate ligament tears and meniscectomy did significantly poorer than stable knees with meniscectomy in regards to radiographic grade change, Lysholm, satisfaction index, Tegner level, and medial joint space narrowing.     

关节镜下建立髁间窝通道治疗内侧半月板后角复杂破裂

目的 :探讨在关节镜下建立髁间窝通道并经该通道治疗内侧半月板后角复杂破裂。方法 :对127例经过髁间窝通道施行了半月板部分切除成形术的骨关节炎病例进行分析总结。127例患者均存在内侧半月板后角复杂裂,男24例,女103例;年龄45~78岁,平均67岁;127例中有112例通过3切口(常规前内侧切口、前外侧切口、高位前外侧切口)顺利完成内侧半月板后角部分切除成形术,有15例通过4切口(常规前内侧切口、前外侧切口、高位前外侧切口、后内侧切口)来完成手术。从4个方面进行评价:该方法对半月板后角部位能否全面便利观察、器械能否便利抵达靶部位、对相邻关节软骨的损伤情况和手术时间(处理半月板的时间)。结果:所有病例的半月板后角后根都能被全面清晰观察,器械都能便利地抵达靶部位,无软骨的医源性破坏发生,3切口情况下内侧半月板后角部位部分切除成形术的时间为5~10 min,4切口的时间为10~30 min。结论:在关节镜下建立髁间窝通道并经此通道治疗内侧半月板后角复杂破裂,方便快捷,最大程度减少了对关节软骨的医源性损伤。     

内侧半月板退变性损伤的关节镜下分型

 目的 探讨内侧半月板退变性损伤的关节镜下分型及其临床意义。方法 2012年1至12月因内侧半月板退变性损伤接受关节镜手术者122例,不包括因重度滑膜炎需做滑膜切除者。男27例,女95例;年龄37~80岁,平均（61.8±8.9）岁。左膝63例,右膝59例。BMI平均（26.5±3.4） kg/m2,术前Lysholm评分（47.2±15.0）分。关节镜术中依据Outerbridge软骨损伤分级对软骨损伤进行评估,比较不同分型者（后角水平撕裂、后角根部损伤和复杂严重损伤）Ⅳ度软骨退变性损伤所累及的关节面数量及术前Lysholm评分。结果 后角水平撕裂33例,Ⅳ度软骨退变性损伤累及的关节面（1.24±1.48）个,术前Lysholm评分（52.5±14.4）分,其中疼痛评分（7.7±6.5）分;后角根部损伤16例,Ⅳ度软骨退变性损伤累及的关节面（1.13±1.26）个,术前Lysholm评分（37.5±8.4）分,其中疼痛评分（3.1±4.0）分;复杂严重损伤73例,Ⅳ度软骨退变性损伤累及的关节面平均（2.26±1.61）个,术前Lysholm评分平均（46.9±15.3）分,其中疼痛评分（6.8±5.4）分。后角根部损伤者术前Lysholm评分低于后角水平撕裂和复杂严重损伤者,差异有统计学意义;其中疼痛评分的差异也有统计学意义。后角根部损伤者Ⅳ度软骨退变性损伤累及的关节面数量与后角水平撕裂者的差异无统计学意义;均小于复杂严重损伤者,差异有统计学意义。结论 关节镜下内侧半月板退变性损伤可分为三种类型。后角根部损伤和后角水平撕裂的软骨退变性损伤相对较轻,是较早期的关节退变;其中后角根部损伤的临床症状和功能减退较为明显。复杂严重损伤的软骨退变性损伤相对较重,是较晚期的关节退变,但临床症状和功能减退却相对较轻。     

Clinical features of the posterior horn tear in the medial meniscus

Introduction A lower threshold of suspicion is necessary for the appropriate diagnosis of a posterior horn tear in the medial meniscus. In these cases, radial tears or meniscus detachment from its insertion follow minor trauma and precipitate severe knee pain in middle-aged and elderly patients. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the key points for diagnosis through examination of the clinical features of this tear.Materials and methods Arthroscopic examination of 250 knees with medial meniscus tears (and no ligamentous injuries; over 40 years old) identified 26 knees (26 tears) with a posterior horn tear. Of these 26 tears, 16 were radial, and 10 were detached.Results Eighty-five percent of patients could recall discrete events that preceded the pain. They described these events as a click or a feeling of shock. Afterwards, most patients complained of severe pain or giving way. Hydrarthrosis involving more than 5 ml was present in 81%. Most radiographs (92%) appeared nearly normal.Conclusion It is important to note that this type of tear of the posterior horn in the medial meniscus is not rare. Because this area is difficult to visualize arthroscopically, it may be overlooked unless the threshold of suspicion is lowered.No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.     

Bilateral PCL hypoplasia resulting in posterior, posterolateral rotatory instability and tears of the lateral meniscus anterior horn

This article describes a case of bilateral sagged knees presenting as posterior, posterolateral rotatory instability with tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. Each knee had identical tears of the lateral meniscus anterior horn. A 42-year-old woman reported bilateral anterior knee pain and painful instability during running or jarring exercises. She reported no major trauma to her knees. Arthroscopic findings of her right knee revealed a posterior cruciate ligament that looked hypoplastic but was without acute injury, and the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus showed chronic complex tears with some degeneration. Posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, posterolateral corner sling, and meniscal repair of the lateral meniscus anterior horn was performed on her right knee. Three months later, a similar operation was performed on her left knee. However, menisectomy was performed because the lateral meniscus anterior horn tear was in the junction of the red-white and white zones. At 18 months postoperatively, the patient reported no symptoms and was satisfied with her results. Physical examination showed no joint line tenderness, and posterior stress radiographs on both knees showed grade I posterior instability. She showed no posterolateral subluxaion by supine dial test, and her prone dial test also improved approximately 15° on both knees. Lysholm score was 74 preoperatively and improved to 92 postoperatively.     

膝关节半月板撕裂的磁共振表现

目的进一步认识膝关节半月板撕裂的磁共振成像(MRI)表现。方法回顾分析50例膝关节半月板撕裂的MRI资料,所有病例均经关节镜手术证实。采用永磁型MRI机,场强0.2T。结果50例半月板撕裂中,按照部位分类,半月板撕裂位于内侧半月板前角2例,内侧后角37例,外侧半月板前角5例,外侧后角3例,同时累及半月板前角、体部和后角者内侧2例,外侧1例。按照半月板撕裂的形式分为:水平撕裂8例;垂直撕裂4例;斜形撕裂26例;纵形撕裂3例;放射状撕裂4例;桶柄状撕裂2例;复杂撕裂3例。结论MRI能够清楚显示膝关节半月板撕裂的部位和形式,为临床治疗提供可靠的依据,是目前诊断半月板撕裂的最好的影像学检查方法。     

Arthroscopic medial meniscectomy on stable knees

We reviewed 74 partial medial meniscectomies in 57 patients with stable knees, to assess the long-term functional and radiological outcome. The International Knee Documentation Committee score and the residual laxity were assessed in both knees. At the time of surgery the mean age of the patients was 36 +/- 11 years and the mean follow-up was 12 +/- 1 years. All had a limited medial meniscectomy. The anterior cruciate ligament was intact in all cases. The meniscal tear was vertical in 95% and complex in 5%. The posterior part of the meniscus was removed in 99%. A peripheral rim was preserved in all cases. After 12 years 95% of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their knee(s). Objectively, 57% had grade A function and 43% were grade B. The outcome correlated only with the presence of anterior knee pain at final follow-up. In the 49 cases of arthroscopic meniscectomy for which there was a contralateral normal knee there was narrowing of the 'joint-space' in 16% of the operated knees. There was no correlation between this and other parameters such as age or different meniscal pathologies.     

Arthroscopic studies of variants of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus

The objective of this study was to arthroscopically analyse the morphology and dynamics of variants of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus of the knee (VAMM) and to then consider the pathological significance of these variants. VAMM was defined as knees in which the anterior horn of the medial meniscus is not attached to the tibia. Between April 1992 and March 1995, arthroscopy was performed on 953 knees of 903 patients. At the time of this examination, observation and probing were performed to determine the condition of the synovium, the synovial plica, the cartilage in all compartments, the meniscus, the cruciate ligaments, and the popliteal tendon. In particular, detailed examination was made of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus with regard to the point of insertion to the tibia and the degree of movement in knee flexion/ extension. Cases of VAMM diagnosed on the basis of the arthroscopic findings were classified into the following four categories: the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) type, where the anterior horn of the medial meniscus was attached to the ACL; the transverse ligament type, where the anterior horn of the medial meniscus was attached to the transverse ligament; the coronary ligament type, where the anterior horn of the medial meniscus was attached to the coronary ligament; and the infrapatellar fold type, where the anterior horn of the medial meniscus was attached to the infrapatellar synovial fold. These patients were then analyzed with regard to the arthroscopic findings and the intra-articular lesions other than VAMM. In 98 (10.9%) of the total patients, 103 knees were classified as VAMM. Classification of those 103 knees using the above criteria showed 39 ACL type knees, 51 transverse ligament type knees, 11 coronary ligament type knees, and 2 infrapatellar fold type knees. The arthroscopic findings indicated that the anterior horn of the medial meniscus was not attached directly to the tibia in any of these knees. Probing and flexion/extension of the knee revealed hypermobility at the anterior horn of the medial meniscus. In this study, anterior knee pain syndrome was diagnosed in 12 (11.7%) of the 103 VAMM knees. In addition, there was no clear history of trauma in 20 of 23 knees found to have an isolated medial meniscus tear. In these cases, even detailed arthroscopic observation proved the causes of the symptoms or injury. On the basis of these findings, we surmised that the anterior portion shows hypermobility at the time of flexion/extension of the knee, regardless of the type of VAMM. In this study, we discussed the possibility that the existence of VAMM may become the cause of pain or injury to the meniscus.     

Femoro-tibial and menisco-tibial translation patterns in patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament deficiency--a potential cause of secondary meniscal tears.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze menisco-tibial and femoro-tibial translation patterns in healthy and ACL-deficient knees in different knee flexion angles under muscle activity. METHODS: The ACL-deficient and contralateral healthy knees of 10 patients were examined with an open MRI system at 30 degrees and 90 degrees of knee flexion, under isometric contraction of the extensors or flexor muscle groups. Translations between the tibia, the femoral condyles and the menisci were analyzed by three-dimensional image postprocessing. RESULTS: Posterior translation of the femur and menisci relative to the tibia occurred during knee flexion (30-90 degrees) in all knees. In ACL-deficient knees, posterior translation of the medial femoral condyle (+1.3 +/- 3.8 mm) was significantly larger than in healthy knee (-0.9 +/- 2.9 mm; p<0.05), while the translation pattern of the menisci was similar (med. meniscus 0.6 +/- 2.3 mm vs. 0.6 +/- 2.7 mm). Under isometric contraction of the extensors (relative to the flexor muscle group), an increased posterior position of the femur and menisci was observed at 30 degrees knee flexion, but not at 90 degrees. This applied to ACL-deficient and healthy knees. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a significant increase of translation of the medial femoral condyle in ACL-deficient knees, whereas menisco-tibial translation remains almost unchanged. This difference in translation patterns indicates that the posterior horn of the medial meniscus might encounter shear, potentially explaining the high rate of secondary medial meniscal tears in patients with ACL-deficiency.     

Microvasculature of the human medial meniscus: operative findings.

The purpose of our study was to weigh the probability of a successful meniscus repair on the basis of the microvasculature of the human medial meniscus. In a series of 105 patients who underwent an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between January 1985 and December 1986, we chose the 40 patients who had a subtotal medial meniscectomy (38%) to study the microvasculature of the human medial meniscus adequately; the other patients had either an intact meniscus (23%), a meniscus repair (29%), or an already removed meniscus (10%). Forty medial menisci, from 40 male patients with an average age of 27 years, having an anterolateral and/or anteromedial chronic knee laxity and an associated meniscal pathology, were subdivided into two groups: (a) 20 tears restricted to the posterior horn, and (b) 20 bucket-handle tears observed under light microscopy. Meaningful capillary plexuses penetrating into the meniscal stroma were found in 18 of 40 menisci (45%). They were easier to identify in posterior horn tears (55%) than in bucket-handle tears (35%), and were found especially in younger patients (22 years on the average). Therefore, we encourage meniscus repairs even in chronic tears, particularly in younger patients and in posterior-horn tears.     

The posterior medial complex disruption

Seventy-five patients with 86 complex tears of the medial meniscus posterior horn (posterior medial complex disruptions) treated by arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were contacted for evaluation of their functional results. Forty-five patients returned for physical and radiographic examination 1 to 6 years after surgery. Condylar chondromalacia was significantly higher in patients waiting to undergo surgery over 6 months from the onset of their symptoms (94%) than those waiting less than 6 months (40%) (P = .0001). Patients were classified into phases based on preoperative x-rays and the operative presence of condylar chondromalacia. Satisfactory results were seen in 87% of phase 0 and phase 1 patients, 50% of phase 2 patients, and 32% of phase 3 patients. Phase classification provided significant data for prognostication of satisfactory results (P = .0001). With advancing age, presence of preoperative x-ray changes, the articular cartilage damage may compromise the results. Most patients in this study exhibited clinical improvement suggesting some benefit from the mechanical washout, if not the meniscectomy.     

关节镜联合胫骨高位截骨治疗伴膝内翻的中老年患者内侧半月板退变性损伤

目的探讨关节镜联合胫骨高位截骨治疗伴膝内翻的内侧半月板退变性损伤的早期疗效。 方法回顾性分析2014年1月至2015年1月,西南医科大学附属医院骨关节外科收治的伴膝内翻的内侧半月板退变性损伤患者26例,采取关节镜联合胫骨高位截骨的手术方式进行治疗。其中男性18例（18膝）,女性8例（8膝）：年龄43~58岁,平均（49±6）岁。所有患者均为内侧半月板退变性损伤且伴有膝内翻,均行内侧撑开胫骨高位截骨,关节镜下半月板部分切除术缓解疼痛。测量下肢机械轴通过胫骨平台的相对位置、股胫角、胫骨平台后倾角;末次随访时评估膝关节各间室骨关节炎进展情况,采用Lysholm评分、美国特种外科医院（HSS）评分和Tegner膝关节运动评分评价膝关节功能,采用视觉模拟疼痛评分（VAS）评价疗效。 结果本组26例患者均获随访,随访时间为1.0~2.8年,平均为（1.6±0.5）年。未发现感染、下肢深静脉血栓形成、骨不愈合或延迟愈合等并发症。下肢机械轴通过胫骨平台的相对位置由术前（21.2±3.8）%改善至（59.5±1.7）%,股胫角由术前的（172±4）°改善至（179±4）°,差异均有统计学意义（t=14.257,P<0.05;t=10.572,P<0.05）。术前胫骨平台后倾角为（7.5±2.2）°,术后为（7.9±1.9）°,差异无统计学意义（t=1.628,P>0.05）。末次随访时,患者Lysholm评分、HSS评分、Tegner评分、VAS评分均较术前明显改善,差异有统计学意义（t=7.684,P<0.05;t=16.521,P<0.05;t=6.284,P<0.05;t=12.359,P<0.05）。 结论关节镜联合胫骨高位截骨治疗伴膝内翻的内侧半月板退变性损伤,能够有效改善下肢力线和缓解关节疼痛,早期临床疗效满意。     

关节镜下部分切除内侧和外侧半月板的近期疗效比较

目的 比较关节镜下半月板部分切除术治疗内外侧半月板损伤的近期疗效. 方法 2003年1月-2006年1月,207 例膝关节稳定的半月板损伤患者(无合并关节内韧带损伤)于关节镜下行半月板部分切除术.其中内侧半月板部分切除术(内侧组)115例,男50例,女65例;年龄14～78岁,平均46.9岁.左侧66例,右侧49例.其中26例外伤至手术时间 6 d～6个月,平均2.1个月.外侧半月板部分切除术(外侧组)92例,男18例,女74例;年龄16～62岁,平均41.1 岁.左侧57例,右侧35例.其中24例外伤至手术时间9 d～6个月,平均1.9个月.Lysholm膝关节评分系统评价治疗效果并作手术前后及组间比较. 结果 术后患者创口均Ⅰ期愈合,无感染、关节僵硬及软组织坏死等并发症.全部获随访 12～45 个月,平均 31.5 个月.内侧组及外侧组 Lysholm 评分从术前 (61.3±16.9) 和 (57.4±17.6) 分提高至随访时(95.0±7.9) 和 (93.3±7.4) 分,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);两组间手术前后的 Lysholm 评分比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).内侧组膝关节功能优107例,良5例,中3例,优良率为 97.39%;外侧组优80例,良12例,优良率为100%. 结论 关节镜下部分切除术治疗半月板损伤是一种安全有效的方法,而部分切除术的近期治疗效果无差异.     

Altered signal intensity in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus: an MR finding of questionable significance

Introduction MR imaging has emerged as an important modality in the non-invasive evaluation of osseous and soft-tissue structures in the post-traumatic knee. However, it is sometimes impossible to determine with confidence if a focus of high signal intensity in the meniscus is confined to the substance of the meniscus or if it extends to involve the joint surface. This is a critical differentiation because the latter represents meniscal tears that can be found and treated arthroscopically, whereas the former represents degeneration, intrasubstance tears or perhaps normal variants that are not amenable to arthroscopic intervention. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of such borderline findings in relation to the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and to correlate the arthroscopic results.Materials and methods Sixty-four patients with suspected post-traumatic internal derangements of the knee who underwent MR imaging prior to arthroscopy were evaluated retrospectively. There were 48 men and 16 women. Their mean age was 28.2 years.Results Tears of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus were diagnosed unequivocally (grade 3 signal) in 18 patients and equivocally (grade 2/3 signal) in 10 patients. Arthroscopic correlation revealed 16 tears (89%) in the unequivocal group and only 1 tear (10%) in the equivocal group.Conclusion A meniscal tear is unlikely when MR shows a focus of high signal intensity in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus that does not unequivocally extend to involve the inferior or superior joint surface. An appropriate trial of conservative treatment is recommended in such questionable cases. MR is a useful diagnostic tool—however, it should be used selectively, and in conjunction with history and clinical examination in evaluating internal derangements of the knee.     

Die arthroskopische Meniskusrefixation mit einem All-inside-Nahtsystem

OBJECTIVE: Application of an arthroscopic suture system to restore the form and function of the meniscus by adaptation of a longitudinal tear close to the base. INDICATIONS: Unstable longitudinal tears near the base of the meniscus, mainly in the posterior horn of the medial or lateral of the meniscus. Dislocated bucket-handle tears of the medial and lateral meniscus close to the base. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Poor tissue quality with fibrillated meniscal tissue. Meniscal tears in the avascular zone (zone I). Insufficient blood supply from the joint capsule and the base of the meniscus. Degenerative meniscal lesions. Anterior or posterior knee joint instability. Allergic reactions to nonresorbable suture material. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Standard anterior arthroscopic portals. Arthroscopic assessment of the meniscal tear using the probe. Revitalization of the tear margins and perforation of the meniscal base to induce bleeding. Adaptation of the tear margins and fixation with a suture-anchor system using an ipsilateral standard portal for tears in the posterior horn or by way of a contralateral standard portal for tears in the lateral horn. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: Full weight bearing with the knee in extension in a knee immobilizer, relative to the pain threshold in the 1st postoperative week. Range of motion exercises without weight bearing from full extension to 90 degrees knee flexion (0/0/90). If simultaneous reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is being performed, rehabilitation protocols follow the principles for ACL reconstruction. RESULTS: Since the year 2000, meniscal tears in more than 300 patients have been repaired with the all-inside suture system. In the context of a multicenter study by ESSKA (European Society for Sports Medicine, Surgery and Arthroscopy) involving 20 patients, the result was evaluated by direct MRI arthrography (gadolinium). The suture bar anchors were generally not detectable, the incision channels produced a hypodense signal in the meniscus tissue. If re-rupture occurred, it was because the meniscus had pulled out of the suture loop. Cartilaginous lesions were not found. There were no complications related to the nonresorbable suture bar anchors.     

Bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus. A case for conservative surgery.

To compare the results of two methods of treatment for bucket-handle tears of the medial meniscus eighty-seven knees were studied, thirty-seven treated by excision of the bucket-handle tear alone and fifty by total meniscectomy. A postoperative history suggestive of locking was given by one patient in each treatment group. Anteroposterior laxity was found in 72% of knees treated by excision of the bucket-handle tear alone as compared with 68% of the knees treated by total meniscectomy, but in all other respects the results showed a marginal preference in favor of the simpler operation. Although the numbers are too small to prove that results are better following excision of the bucket-handle tear alone, it is suggested, in the absence of evidence that total meniscectomy is more advantageous, that the simpler operation of excision of just the bucket-handle tear is the treatment of choice in bucket-handle tears of the medial meniscus.