Common peroneal nerve palsy as a postoperative complication in lateral meniscus repair

Arthroscopic lateral meniscus repair using an inside-out technique can potentially be hazardous to the common peroneal nerve. This is true even for a longitudinal incision posterior to the posterior border of the iliotibial band, which allows visualization of the lateral joint capsule. A 37-year-old woman presented with common peroneal nerve dysfunction after an arthroscopic lateral meniscus repair using this technique. After confirmation of nerve entrapment by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), an early exploration to decompress the involved nerve eventually resulted in the recovery of neurological function. In addition, an all-inside technique using a FasT-Fix suture device was used as an effective and safe remedy after untying the earlier sutures from the lateral meniscus repair that were trapping the nerve.