A novel technique for arthroscopic reduction and repair of a bucket-handle meniscal tear

We present a new technique designed for the reduction and repair of bucket-handle meniscal tears. After assessing the rotation of the displaced tear fragment of the meniscus, the centrally displaced portion of the tear is vertically pierced with a suture hook enabling passage of a No. 0 PDS suture, both limbs of which are retrieved out of the joint. Next, using a spinal needle and a shuttle relay system, both ends of the No. 0 PDS on the femoral and tibial surfaces of the meniscus are extricated outside the joint capsule. In the final step, reduction of the displaced fragment is achieved by pulling on the PDS suture and the same suture is used for repair too, after which additional sutures are applied. This is a useful technique, which affords the benefit of rotational reduction of a bucket-handle meniscal tear using a single suture, as well as improved maneuverability for freshening of the tear margins prior to repair and additional suturing, and finally for repair as a full-thickness vertical suture.     

Arthroscopic all-inside repair of anterior horn tears of the lateral meniscus using a spinal needle

Several techniques have been used for the arthroscopic repair of anterior horn tears of the lateral meniscus. A commonly used method is the outside-in technique. This technique is known to be the most appropriate and safest technique for peripheral tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. But it has the disadvantage of making an additional 1-2 cm sized skin incision and tying knots subcutaneously over the capsule. Irritation may also occur. We have developed a new alternative repair method to prevent this skin incision and preserve the normal biomechanics of the lateral meniscus during motion. These techniques are modified methods of the outside-in meniscal repair using a spinal needle. They are as simple as conventional outside-in technique. In addition, they have advantages of vertical mattress suture, which is an important characteristic of the all-inside repair, and no additional incision. We recommend these methods as an alternative technique for repairing an anterior horn tear of the lateral meniscus.     

Arthroscopic all-inside repair techniques of lateral meniscus anterior horn tear: a technical note

Although the conventional outside-in technique is especially useful for repairing tears in the anterior portion of the meniscus, it has a disadvantage of making an additional 1–2 cm sized skin incision and tying knots subcutaneously over the capsule. Therefore we devised two all-inside repair techniques of lateral meniscus anterior horn tear according to the site of meniscal tear, meniscosynovial junction or red–red zone. Because these techniques are modified methods of the outside-in meniscal repair using a spinal needle, they are as simple as conventional outside-in technique. In addition they have advantages of vertical mattress suture, which is an important characteristic of the all-inside repair, and no additional incision. We recommend these techniques as an alternative method for repairing an anterior horn tear of the lateral meniscus.     

Arthroscopic all-inside repair for a tear of posterior root of the medial meniscus: a technical note

This technical note describes a new arthroscopic technique to repair a tear of posterior root of the medial meniscus. Cartilage at the insertion area of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (PHMM) was removed using a curved curette inserted through an anteromedial portal. A metal anchor loaded with two FiberWires (Arthrex, Naples, FL) was placed at the insertion area of the PHMM through a high posteromedial portal. A PDS suture was passed the PHMM by curved suture hook through the anteromedial portal. Two limbs of the PDS were then used to pass two limbs of the FiberWire through the meniscus. The same procedure was repeated for the second FiberWire suture. The sutures were tied, achieving secure fixation of the posterior meniscal root at the anatomic insertion.     

A pull out suture for transection of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus: using a posterior trans-septal portal

A transection (root tear or complete radial tear) injury of the medial meniscus posterior horn is not rare in the oriental area and needs to be repaired to restore the hoop tension and to reduce the extruded meniscus, which leads to osteoarthritis of the knee. In cases with transection of the medial meniscus posterior horn, the meniscus can be repaired by a pull out suture technique. However, it is difficult to manipulate a suture hook and drill a tibial tunnel in the narrow medial joint space using the traditional anterior arthroscopic technique. This article describes a new pull out suture technique for transection of the medial meniscus posterior horn using a posterior trans-septal portal that provides a safe and wide field of vision. The handling of the suture hook and a guide may reduce the possibility of a chondral or meniscal injury.     

Biomechanical evaluation of arthroscopic all-inside meniscus repairs

Viper is a new device for arthroscopically all-inside meniscal repairing. In previous studies about Viper device, procedures were not applied arthroscopically despite this device has been designed for arthroscopic application. In this study, we evaluated primary fixation strength of arthroscopically applied meniscal repair using Viper device to obtain better clinical relevance. Two centimeter in length meniscal tear 2–3 mm far from periferic edge of medial meniscus of 50 calves were created arthroscopically. The menisci were divided into five groups including 10 menisci in each. In group 1, tears were repaired by outside-in vertical loop suture technique with No: 0 PDS. Tears were fixed by all-inside vertical suture by using Viper device with No: 0 PDS in group 2. In meniscal implant groups, RapidLoc, H-Fix, and Clearfix were applied in groups 3,4, and 5, respectively. Primary fixation strength of repairing techniques were evaluated with bio-mechanical testing machine. Fixation strengths determined in groups 1 and 2 were detected as 145 ± 13 and 136 ± 33 N, respectively. There was no difference in pull-out strength between groups 1 and 2. Fixation strengths in these two groups were significantly higher compared to groups 3, 4, and 5. There was no significant difference between group 3 (33 ± 6 N) and 5 (28 ± 6 N) in terms of fixation strengths whereas fixation strengths of these two groups were significantly higher compared to group 4 (20 ± 3 N) (P = 0.005, P = 0.018, respectively). All-inside vertical suture technique using Viper device revealed comparable primary fixation strength with outside-in vertical suture technique for meniscal repair. We suggest that the Viper device is safe and reliable for meniscal repair.     

Failure strength of repair devices versus meniscus suturing techniques

The purpose of this study was to compare the load to failure of different common suturing techniques with repair devices. Seventy-one calf medial menisci were cut to simulate peripheral longitudinal tears and repaired with one of 13 repair techniques. The two parts of the meniscus were pulled using the Instron tensometer until failure occurred. The techniques and repair devices tested were vertical (0 PDS, 2-0 PDS, 2-0 Ethibond), horizontal (0 PDS, 2-0 PDS, 2-0 Ethibond) suturing, T-fix, Mitek, Clearfix screw, Clearfix dart, Biostinger, S-D-sorb, and Artrex dart. The strongest repair method in our study was the vertical sutures with 0 PDS. In this study the mean failure strength of all meniscal repair devices was lower than that of the vertical and horizontal suturing techniques. All meniscus repair devices except T-fix and in some the Arthrex dart (40% broken up) pulled out of the menisci. Devices which had only horizontally placed barbs had lower mean failure strength. Failure strength of T-fix was similar to horizontal sutures with 2-0 Ethibond and 2-0 PDS. In conclusion, because all meniscal repair devices had inferior results, when such devices are used, postoperative rehabilitation should not be hastened, and their inferior primary stability should be kept in mind.     

Arthroscopic treatment of lateral meniscal cysts using an outside-in technique

This paper describes 19 cases of lateral meniscal cysts treated arthroscopically using an outside-in technique. In all patients, a horizontal or radial lesion (or both) of the meniscus was present. After the meniscal lesion was arthroscopically removed, the cyst was decompressed both from inside and percutaneously from outside with a motorized instrument introduced through a transmeniscal approach. The follow-up ranged from 2 to 5 years with an average of 3.3 years. On the basis of the evaluation scale developed by Cerullo et al. (1991), the results were rated excellent or good in 17 patients and fair in 2. No patient had cyst recurrence. The computed tomography follow-up examination, done in 10 of the 19 patients after an average of 3 years, showed a good remodeling of the meniscus. One of the two patients with a fair result had hypermobility of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus due to the resection of the meniscal tissue overlying the popliteus tendon, whereas the other had pain and patellar crepitation owing to a preexisting patellofemoral abnormality.     

Elongation and structural properties of meniscal repair using suture techniques in distraction and shear force scenarios: biomechanical evaluation using a cyclic loading protocol

BACKGROUND: Most biomechanical studies on meniscal repairs have focused on testing distraction scenarios to evaluate structural properties of the repaired meniscus. An application of shear forces might replicate the in vivo situation more closely. HYPOTHESIS: In the shear force scenario, meniscal repair using a vertical suture technique will result in significantly less elongation when subjected to a cyclic loading protocol than that resulting from a horizontal suture technique. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: In fresh-frozen porcine menisci (n = 10 in each group), horizontal and vertical 2.0 Ethibond suturing techniques were tested in distraction and shear force scenarios. Elongation after 1000 cycles between 5 and 20 N and the structural properties such as stiffness, yield load, maximum load to failure, and failure mode were evaluated using a testing machine at a rate of 12.5 mm/s. RESULTS: In the distraction force scenario, no statistically significant difference in elongation after cyclic loading was found between specimens repaired with vertical or horizontal suture techniques. After 1000 cycles of cyclic loading in the shear force scenario, the horizontal suturing revealed significantly less elongation (2.8 +/- 1.1 mm) than did the vertical suture technique (4.6 +/- 2.0 mm). No statistically significant difference in yield and maximum load was found (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study do not support the authors' hypothesis. In the shear force test, horizontal sutures were superior to vertical suture techniques. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Meniscal repair with horizontal suture techniques can withstand elongation due to shear forces more effectively than can vertical mattress sutures.     

The flipped meniscus sign

Meniscal fragments may be difficult to detect on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and yet are clinically significant. This paper describes and illustrates the MR appearance of an easily overlooked meniscal fragment. Ten knees, each appearing to show an abnormally large anterior meniscal horn (8 mm or more in height) were prospectively identified on MR images. In each case demonstrable large tears of the ipsilateral posterior horns were present (same meniscus as had large anterior horns). The lateral meniscus was involved in nine cases and the medial in one. Two of the ten patients imaged had surgically proven bucket-handle meniscal tears as well as meniscal fragments overlying the ipsilateral anterior horn. In one case previous MR imaging at our institution had demonstrated the affected anterior horn to be of normal caliber. The striking MR appearance of an abnormally enlarged anterior meniscal horn in association with a tear of the ipsilateral posterior horn suggests the presence of a meniscal fragment or of a posteriorly detached bucket-handle tear of the posterior horn of the meniscus.Presented at the Fifteenth Annual Skeletal Symposium of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania at Sun Valley, Idaho, USA, on 3 March 1992     

前交叉韧带损伤合并内侧半月板桶柄样撕裂的临床治疗

目的:回顾性评估前交叉韧带(ACL)损伤合并内侧半月板桶柄样撕裂(BHT)的关节镜下修补疗效。方法:2002年5月~2007年2月,67例前交叉韧带损伤合并内侧半月板桶柄样撕裂手术病例。入选条件为:红-红区及红-白区损伤、具备可复位性、半月板组织无复合撕裂及明显变性,进行过二次手术探查。手术技术:前交叉韧带关节镜下重建。内侧半月板修补采用关节镜下联合修补方法:后体部至前体部区域采用标准的自内向外缝合技术,后部区域采用经两个后内侧入路的全关节内缝合技术。结果:平均随访40.6个月(12个月~70个月)。二次手术探查结果:完全愈合57例(85%),部分愈合3例(4.5%),不愈合7例(10.4%)。总体成功率(包括完全愈合与部分愈合)为89.5%。临床评估包括交锁、积液、关节间隙压痛、McMurray试验,其中无症状者59例(88%),关节间隙压痛者5例(7.5%),交锁复发3例(4.5%)。膝关节活动度检查显示,3例伸膝受限大于10°,1例出现止血带麻痹。结论:对于ACL合并内侧半月板红-红区及红-白区BHT,在重建ACL的同时采用关节镜下联合修补技术对BHT的全长范围进行有效修补,在平均40个月的随访期内,可以获得89.5%的总体成功率,包括85%的完全愈合率及4.5%的部分愈合率,失效率为10.4%。     

Posterior horn instability of the medial meniscus a sign of posterior meniscotibial ligament insufficiency

Purpose  

In longstanding chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insufficiency, we identified an abnormal movement of the posterior medial meniscal horn, likely due to insufficiency of the posteromedial meniscotibial ligament. Passing from extension to flexion or vice versa, the medial posterior horn slides below the posterior rim of the tibia exposing the tibial plateau. Fixation with suture anchors of the meniscotibial ligament through a posteromedial portal restored normal meniscotibial tension and reduced instability of the meniscal posterior horn. The purpose of the present study was to present the arthroscopic features of posterior medial meniscus instability and to report results following arthroscopic repair.     

Kinematics of healthy and meniscal repaired knees

Differences have been reported between in vitro and in vivo meniscal kinematics, and no clinical study to date has investigated the effect of meniscal repair on meniscal kinematics. Eleven subjects with healthy knees and eight subjects who had undergone meniscal repair for an isolated tear were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging. Sagittal plane scanning was performed at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 degrees of knee flexion. The mean composite lateral meniscus movements for the normal and meniscal-repaired subjects were 6.85 mm and 6.01 mm, respectively. The mean composite medial meniscus movement for the normal and meniscal repaired subjects were 8.22 mm and 5.91 mm, respectively. Anterior horn movements of the lateral and medial meniscus of normal subjects were 7.5 and 8.9 mm, respectively. The posterior horns of the lateral meniscus and medial meniscus displaced 6.2 mm and 7.6 mm, respectively. In comparing meniscal-repair subjects to the subjects with healthy knees, the lateral meniscus displaced approximately 6 mm for both groups. However, the medial meniscus moved 8.2 mm for the normal subjects and only 5.91 mm for the meniscal repair subjects. Posterior horn movement of the medial meniscus was determined to be reduced following meniscal repair.     

Modified cruciate suture technique for arthroscopic meniscal repair: a technical note

Arthroscopic meniscal repair is the procedure of choice whenever a reparable tear is diagnosed. The cruciate suture for arthroscopic meniscal repair is a type of the outside-in technique. It has advantages like: (1) its ultimate tension load (UTL) is 1.6 times higher than the UTL of the vertical suture (gold standard), (2) it holds the circumferential collagen fibers of the meniscus in a three-dimensional plane compared to the vertical and horizontal sutures which hold the circumferential fibers of the meniscus in a two-dimensional plane, (3) simple instrumentation, (4) could withstand not only distraction forces on the repaired meniscal tear but also, shear forces because of the oblique orientation of the cruciate suture limbs. It has disadvantages like: being difficult to perform and time-consuming. A modified technique is presented in this study which has the following advantages; (1) less time-consuming, (2) performed through a smaller skin incision, (3) a sliding knot is used to tie the cruciate suture.     

Complications in medial meniscus suture: a cadaveric study

The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of complications in medial meniscus repair using an inside-out suturing device. Anatomical cadaveric study. Six fresh frozen cadaveric lower limbs were used. The posterior horn of the medial meniscus was sutured using three vertical stitches. An anatomical dissection was subsequently performed to check for any possible effects upon the structures of the medial aspect of the knee. In addition, an incision was made in a safety zone in order to ascertain whether it was possible to carry out the suture without affecting the aforementioned structures. No vascular or nervous structures were pierced by the needle. On knotting, it was found that a number of different structures had become trapped: the sartorial tendon was affected in each of the specimens used. In four cases, the saphenous vein was trapped by some of the knots. The saphenous nerve was trapped in four instances. Once this had been established, a small accessory incision was made to provide access to a safety zone, where suture can be performed without affecting any neurovascular or tendinous structures. Inside-out suture of the posterior meniscal horn carries a high incidence of entrapment of the neurovascular structures of the medial aspect of the knee. The sartorial tendon is constantly affected. Such complications can easily be avoided by entering the safety zone via a small auxiliary incision. This study provides evidence that complications affecting the peripheral structures of the medial aspect of the knee may arise during inside-out suture of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and proposes a simple method of averting them.     

Pericruciate intra-articular lateral meniscal cyst without meniscal tear

A case of intra-articular pericruciate type of meniscal cyst from anterior horn of lateral meniscus without associated meniscal tear is reported with review of literature. To our knowledge such association has not been reported earlier.     

Transverse ligament and its effect on meniscal motion. Correlation of kinematic MR imaging and anatomic sections.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of the transverse ligament on translation of the menisci. METHODS: Six cadaveric knees were examined by MR imaging inside a positioning device before and after transecting the transverse ligament. The knees were examined at various positions: extension, 30 degrees of flexion, 60 degrees of flexion, and full flexion. Sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo images were generated at each knee position and evaluated for statistical differences with regard to anterior-posterior meniscal excursion. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in meniscal excursion were found before and after transsecting the transverse ligament for anterior-posterior meniscal motion of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus at 30 degrees of knee flexion. No such significant differences were found, however, at 60 degrees of flexion and full flexion in anterior-posterior meniscal excursion of the anterior or posterior horn of either meniscus before and after transsecting the transverse ligament. CONCLUSIONS: The transverse ligament has a restricting effect on anterior-posterior excursion of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus at lower degrees of knee flexion.     

Prospective comparison of arthroscopic medial meniscal repair technique: inside-out suture versus entirely arthroscopic arrows

BACKGROUND: Medial meniscal repairs are commonly performed with inside-out sutures and entirely arthroscopic with arrows, but few comparative evaluations on failures have been performed. HYPOTHESIS: No differences in failure rates exist between medial meniscal repairs performed with inside-out suture or entirely arthroscopic at the time of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. MATERIALS: A single surgeon performed 47 consecutive inside-out suture repairs from August 1991 to June 1996 and 98 consecutive entirely arthroscopic repairs with arrows from June 1996 to December 1999. All data were derived from a prospective database and rehabilitation was held constant (nonweightbearing 5 weeks). Clinical success was defined as no reoperation for failed medial meniscal repair. Statistical evaluation was by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The inside-out suture group had 85% follow-up (40 of 47) with a median 68 months and the entirely arthroscopic group had 87% follow-up (85 of 98) with a median 27 months. There were seven failures in each group. Both Kaplan-Meier curves and the Cox proportional hazards model showed no difference in time to reoperation between techniques (P = 0.85). Three-year success rates (proportions with no reoperations) were 88% for sutures versus 89% for arrows. CONCLUSIONS: Repairs of the longitudinal posterior horn of the medial meniscus during an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with nonweightbearing for 5 weeks can be performed with an equivalent high degree of clinical success for both repair techniques.     

外侧半月板腘肌腱区损伤的缝合方法

目的介绍一种经前方关节镜入路进行全关节内半月板缝合的手术技术,探讨外侧半月板腘肌腱区安全、有效的修补方法。方法2002年7月至2006年5月,共采用经前方入路的全内缝合技术修补外侧半月板腘肌腱区损伤36例,其中合并前交叉韧带损伤26例,单纯桶柄样撕裂2例,盘状软骨损伤8例。常规关节镜前内及前外侧入路,缝合时关节镜置于前外侧入路,前内侧入路为缝合通道。膝关节屈曲90°位内翻,呈“4”字位。将预装配可吸收缝线的缝合钩通过前内侧入路置入关节内,在腘肌腱两侧分别进行缝合,关节内完成垂直褥式缝合、过线、打结、剪线的全部操作步骤。合并前交叉韧带损伤者同时行韧带重建手术,具备修补性的盘状软骨损伤者在修补术之前进行成形术。结果其中30例得到随访,平均随访25.8个月。采用临床检查及二次手术探查对半月板愈合状况进行综合评估。30例可随访病例全部进行了临床检查,均属于“无症状”,其中26例进行了二次手术探查,结果25例完全愈合,1例部分愈合,未发现不愈合病例。无明显手术并发症出现。结论经前方关节镜入路的全关节内缝合技术修补外侧半月板腘肌腱区损伤,可以达到牢靠的缝合效果,有效地避免损伤腘肌腱及腓总神经,获得较好的临床疗效。     

Pericruciate meniscal cysts arising from tears of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus: MR imaging features that simulate posterior cruciate ganglion cysts.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe MR imaging features of an unusual type of meniscal cyst arising from tears of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus in 10 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of MR examinations of the knee was performed of 10 patients (nine men, one woman; mean age, 39 years) in whom evidence of a meniscal tear and a cyst-like structure around the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) was seen. RESULTS: An oval mass with low signal intensity on T1-weighted MR images and increased signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images posterior to the PCL, simulating a PCL ganglion cyst, was seen in all 10 patients. A tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus was also seen in all patients. The sites of communication between the cyst and meniscal tear were observed in sagittal MR images in eight patients. Septation within the cyst and associated joint effusion were seen in eight and four patients, respectively. Arthroscopy in eight patients and transmeniscal needle drainage in the other two patients confirmed both the meniscal tear and the pericruciate meniscal cyst. CONCLUSION: Pericruciate meniscal cysts cause fluid collections posterior to the PCL, simulating a PCL ganglion cyst. Careful analysis of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus should be performed when a cyst-like structure is seen adjacent to the PCL.