All-inside meniscal repair

More Is Not Merrier: Increasing Numbers of All-Inside Implants Do Not Correlate with Higher Odds of Revision Surgery

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the number of all-inside meniscal repair implants placed and the risk of repair failure. We hypothesized that the use of higher numbers of all-inside meniscus repair implants would be associated with increased failure risk. A retrospective chart review identified 351 patients who underwent all-inside meniscus repair between 2006 and 2013 by a sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon at a single institution. Patient demographics (age, body mass index [BMI], sex) and surgical data (number of implants used, concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction [cACLR], and tear type/size/location) were recorded. Patients who received repairs in both menisci or who had follow-up < 1-year postoperatively were excluded. Repair failure was identified through chart review or patient interviews defined as a revision surgery on the index knee such as partial meniscectomy, total knee arthroplasty, meniscus transplant, or repeat repair. Logistic regression modeling was utilized to evaluate the relationship between the number of implants used and repair failure. A total of 227 all-inside meniscus repairs were included with a mean follow-up of 5.0 ± 3.0 years following surgery. Repair failure was noted in 68 knees (30.3%)-in 28.1% of knees with fewer than four implants and in 35.8% of knees with four or more implants (p = 0.31). No significant increase in failure was observed with increasing number of all-inside medial (odds ratio [OR]: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-1.7; p = 0.46) or lateral (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.47-1.57; p = 0.63) implants after controlling for patient age, BMI, cACLR, tear type, or size. Tears of the lateral meniscus located in the red-white and white-white zones had lower odds of failure (OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02-0.88; p = 0.036) than tears within the red-red zone, and patients with cACLR had lower odds of repair failure (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.18-0.86, p = 0.024) than those without. The number of all-inside implants placed during meniscus tear repair did not affect the likelihood of repair failure leading to reoperation after controlling for BMI, age, tear type, size, location, and cACLR. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:  III.

Meniscal Radial Tears: A Classification System Based on Tear Morphology

Appropriate management of radial meniscal tears is complex, with continued efforts focused on optimizing diagnostic methods for identification to help dictate treatment, especially as surgical indications for repair have expanded, coupled with improvements in surgical techniques and instrumentation. Currently, no standardized classification system for radial meniscal tears exists, limiting the ability to accurately characterize injury patterns and guide surgical decision-making.

Changes in Functional Meniscal Morphology During Skeletal Growth and Maturation

Background

Little is known on how meniscal morphology develops during skeletal growth and maturation and its subsequent relationship with the corresponding bony anatomy.

Hypotheses

(1) Meniscal dimensions and morphology would change by age during skeletal growth and maturation in different ways in boys compared with girls. (2) Morphological features of the medial and lateral menisci would correlate to medial and lateral femoral condyle curvatures.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Anatomic features of the medial and lateral menisci were measured on magnetic resonance imaging scans from 269 unique knees (age, 3-18 years; 51% female) with no prior history of injury, congenital or growth-related skeletal disorders, or bony deformities. Morphological shape-based measurements were normalized to tibial plateau width or determined as ratios of meniscal dimensions. The association between age and anatomy was analyzed with linear regression. Two-way analysis of variance with the Holm-Šídák post hoc method was used to compare anatomy between sexes in different age groups. Linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between femoral condyle curvature radius and meniscal morphology in each compartment after adjusting for age and sex.

Results

Meniscal length, width, horn distance, mean cross-sectional area (CSA), and mean height increased with age in both sexes (R2 > 0.1; P < .001). Age-related changes in meniscal morphology were seen in normalized length, width, horn distance, and mean height; width-to-length ratio; horn distance-to-length ratio (lateral meniscus only); normalized mean CSA (except lateral meniscus in girls); and mean tip angle (R2 > 0.04; P < .02). Sex-based differences were also found, with some morphological differences (normalized length and height) throughout development (P < .03) and size differences (length, width, and mean CSA) in later development (P < .01). After adjusting for age and sex, there were significant correlations between medial condyle curvature radius and normalized width, width-to-length ratio, horn distance, horn distance-to-length ratio, mean CSA, and mean height of the medial meniscus (P≤ .041) and between lateral condyle curvature radius and normalized length, mean height, and mean tip angle of the lateral meniscus (P≤ .004).

Conclusion

Age-related changes in meniscal dimensions and morphology, most notably a nonuniform growth pattern in meniscal geometry, occurred during skeletal growth and maturation, with different trends in boys than in girls.

Knot location in arthroscopic inside-out meniscal repair: Cadaveric evaluation

BACKGROUND

The inside-out repair technique is the gold standard for treatment of meniscal tears, while some soft tissues can be hung as the sutures are tied outside the capsule. The purpose was to clarify the association between the suture site and knot location in the arthroscopic inside-out technique.

METHODS

Inside-out meniscal suture was arthroscopically performed on medial and lateral menisci in twenty-three cadaveric knees, on the assumption that longitudinal tear existed. A retractor was inserted above the semi-membranous tendon and anterior to the gastrocnemius for the medial side, while the retractor was placed in the anterior space of the gastrocnemius for the lateral side. After identifying three segments (anterior, middle and posterior segments), eight sutures were inserted into the following eight areas in each knee: anterior (M1, L1) and posterior (M2, L2) areas of the middle segment, and anterior (M3, L3) and posterior (M4, L4) areas of the posterior segment. Twelve knees underwent meniscal repair on femoral side and eleven passed sutures on the tibial side, while knots were tied outside of the joint. Attentive dissection was performed to assess the relation between knot locations and the principal structures around the knee joint.

RESULTS

In medial meniscal suture, most sutures for the middle portion (M1, 2) bound medial collateral ligament (MCL), while a few cases included the semi-membranous tendon for the M4 area. In lateral meniscal suture, sutures for the L1 area tied some fibers of lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in high frequency, while popliteal muscles/tendons were tied over at the L3 area.

CONCLUSIONS

Most suture knots were located on MCL or capsule in medial meniscus suture, while more than half sutures passed through LCL or popliteal tendon/muscle in lateral meniscus suture. An assistant should retract LCL under direct observation and the surgeon must confirm the direction of needle for lateral meniscal repair.

Meniscectomy is associated with a higher rate of osteoarthritis compared to meniscal repair following acute tears: a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Meniscal tears are common and may impair knee function and biomechanics. This meta-analysis compared meniscal repair versus resection in patients with symptomatic meniscal tears in terms of patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs), joint width, surgical failure, and rate of progression to osteoarthritis (OA) at conventional radiography.

METHODS

This study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement. In August 2023, the following databases were accessed: PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase. Two reviewers independently performed the analysis and a methodological quality assessment of the included studies. All the clinical investigations which compared repair versus resection of meniscal tears were accessed.

RESULTS

Data from 20 studies (31,783 patients) were collected. The mean BMI was 28.28 ± 3.2 kg/m2, and the mean age was 37.6 ± 14.0 years. The mean time elapsed from injury to surgery was 12.1 ± 10.2 months and the mean medial joint width was 4.9 ± 0.8 mm. Between studies comparability at baseline was found in age, women, BMI, time from injury to surgery and length of the follow-up, PROMs, medial joint width, and stage of OA. The resection group demonstrated a greater Lysholm score (P = 0.02). No difference was found in the International Knee Documentation Committee (P = 0.2). Nine studies reported data on the rate of failures at a mean of 63.00 ± 24.7 months. No difference was found between the two groups in terms of persistent meniscal symptoms (P = 0.8). Six studies reported data on the rate of progression to total knee arthroplasty at a mean of 48.0 ± 14.7 months follow-up. The repair group evidenced a lower rate of progression to knee arthroplasty (P = 0.0001). Six studies reported data on the rate of advanced knee OA at a mean of 48.0 ± 14.7 months of follow-up. The repair group evidenced a lower rate of advanced knee OA (P = 0.0001). No difference was found in the mean joint space width (P = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

Meniscal repair is associated with a lower progression to knee osteoarthritis at approximately six years of follow-up compared to partial meniscectomy. No difference in PROMs, medial joint width, and failures were evidenced.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, meta-analysis.

Semimembranosus Tendon Entrapment by an All-Inside Meniscal Suture

Meniscal suturing has become the gold standard when it comes to meniscal tears in vascularized areas, especially in the younger population. The all-inside meniscal suturing technique has gained popularity in the past year due to decreased operative time as well as decreased risk of adverse events, as compared to other modalities. However, several complications have been reported with the all-inside technique, including soft tissue and neurovascular injury. This is the first case reporting a semimembranosus tendon entrapment following an all-inside medial meniscal suture. Being aware of such complications is crucial in order to avoid them and treat them promptly should they arise.

Return to sports after bucket handle medial meniscus tear repair using inside out technique in recreational sports players

The main purpose of our study is to determine the outcomes of bucket handle medial meniscus tears repaired with the inside out technique in recreational sports players, and the return of these to pre-injury sports levels. 41 athletes with medial meniscus bucket handle tear were included in the study. 28 cases were associated with ACL tear while rest were isolated tears. Medial meniscus repair was done exclusively with arthroscopy assisted inside out technique. Lysholm score, IKDC score and Tegner staging were used to evaluate functional status of patients with minimum 1-year follow-up. Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon Matched pairs test, and Friedman test. All patients were examined clinically at regular intervals. Lysholm score and IKDC score showed significant increase in their values. Tegner staging showed no significant change compared to their preinjury game level. On VAS pain scale, there was significant decrease in their pain at regular follow up intervals. 2 patients had re-tears of the repaired medial meniscus. Repairing bucket handle tears of the medial meniscus in recreational sports players with the inside out technique yields good results in terms of clinical and functional outcomes. It successfully allows them to return to sports at 1 year.

All-Inside Meniscus Repair

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The indications for partial meniscectomy are becoming increasingly limited, and recent evidence suggests that the meniscus should be preserved whenever possible. Because of its many proposed advantages, all-inside meniscus repairs are becoming increasingly common. This review discusses the indications, advantages, disadvantages, and biomechanical and clinical outcomes of all-inside meniscus repair.

RECENT FINDINGS

All-inside meniscus repair demonstrates equal functional outcomes, healing rates, and complications compared to inside-out repair of vertical longitudinal and bucket-handle tears with the advantages of decreased surgical time and faster post-operative recovery. In addition, return-to-sport and activity levels are high following all-inside repair regardless of whether concomitant anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is performed. Biomechanical studies have demonstrated advantages of all-inside meniscal based repairs on radial and horizontal tears. All-inside meniscus repair compares favorably to inside-out repair of vertical longitudinal and bucket-handle tears and continues to increase in popularity. Both capsular based and meniscal based repairs can be used to repair a variety of tear patterns. While biomechanical results are encouraging, further research on the clinical outcomes of meniscal based repairs is needed to elucidate the role of these techniques in the future.

Steadiness training improves the quadriceps strength and self-reported outcomes in persistent quadriceps weakness following nine months of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and failed conventional physiotherapy

Background Persistent quadriceps weakness may occur after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, limiting the strength gain. However, steadiness strengthening might change the inability to gain strength. Hence, we determined whether strength training with force steadiness and visual biofeedback can improve knee quadriceps torque, self-reported pain and knee stability in patients with persistent quadriceps weakness after knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Methods Twenty-five patients (aged 43.7 ± 12.2 years) with persistent quadriceps weakness following knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and 34-weeks of physiotherapy performed unilateral strength training for both lower limbs. Four-weeks of conventional physiotherapy at week-30 were given, confirming the inability to gain torque. Then, steadiness training (isometric knee extension with visual biofeedback) was given for 7-weeks. Knee quadriceps peak torque, strength improvement, determination of responders to the intervention, coherence of strength gain between limbs, and self-reported outcomes (pain and knee stability) were obtained. Descriptive statistics and data inference using mixed-ANOVA, McNemar test, and χ² test were described. Findings Quadriceps torque in the reconstructed knee improved (98.2 ± 47.2-155.2 ± 78.9 Nm; p = 0.031) for most patients (84%). Nevertheless, the torque was lower than the healthy side maintaining asymmetry (155.2 ± 78.9 vs. 209.5 ± 101.8 Nm; p = 0.026). There was high (20%) and medium coherence (80%) between limbs. Knee stability and pain improved in 72% of the patients (p < 0.001). Interpretations Steadiness training after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction followed 9 months of surgery and failed conventional physiotherapy, improves the persistent weakness and self-reported outcomes, but gain strength was dissimilar between limbs.

All-Inside Double-Sided Suture Repair for Longitudinal Meniscal Tears

The current consensus in the literature is that the meniscus must be saved. Even though inside-out sutures are still considered as the gold standard, the need to alternate between intra- and extra-articular structures for every stitch makes it laborious. New generations of all-inside systems are now routinely used in operating rooms and enable easier, quicker, and safer techniques. However traditional all-inside repair with limited upper fixation does not provide uniform compression from top to down, essential precondition for satisfactory meniscal healing. This Technical Note describes a simple and accessible alternative technique that provides stable fixation and overall compression of vertical meniscal tears from top to down with standard all-inside instrumentation.

Meniscal repair: The current state and recent advances in augmentation

Meniscal injuries represent one of the most common orthopedic injuries. The most frequent treatment is partial resection of the meniscus, or meniscectomy, which can affect joint mechanics and health. For this reason, the field has shifted gradually towards suture repair, with the intent of preservation of the tissue. "Save the Meniscus" is now a prolific theme in the field; however, meniscal repair can be challenging and ineffective in many scenarios. The objectives of this review are to present the current state of surgical management of meniscal injuries and to explore current approaches being developed to enhance meniscal repair. Through a systematic literature review, we identified meniscal tear classifications and prevalence, approaches being used to improve meniscal repair, and biological- and material-based systems being developed to promote meniscal healing. We found that biologic augmentation typically aims to improve cellular incorporation to the wound site, vascularization in the inner zones, matrix deposition, and inflammatory relief. Furthermore, materials can be used, both with and without contained biologics, to further support matrix deposition and tear integration, and novel tissue adhesives may provide the mechanical integrity that the meniscus requires. Altogether, evaluation of these approaches in relevant in vitro and in vivo models provides new insights into the mechanisms needed to salvage meniscal tissue, and along with regulatory considerations, may justify translation to the clinic. With the need to restore long-term function to injured menisci, biologists, engineers, and clinicians are developing novel approaches to enhance the future of robust and consistent meniscal reparative techniques.

Recent Trends in Concomitant Meniscal Procedures During Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The chondroprotective effect and secondary stabilizing role of the meniscus has been well-established. Meniscal preservation during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has been advocated in the literature and supported by advancements in surgical techniques.

PURPOSE

To examine the recent trends in concomitant partial meniscectomy and meniscal repair procedures with ACLR.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive epidemiological study.

METHODS

Patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT] codes 29880, 29881), meniscal repair (CPT codes 29882, 29883), and ACLR (CPT code 29888) between 2010 and 2018 were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. We calculated the proportion of patients who underwent each surgery type, stratified by year and by patient age and body mass index (BMI) groups. The Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used to analyze yearly proportions of concomitant meniscal surgery types.

RESULTS

During the 9-year study period, 22,760 patients underwent either isolated ACLR (n = 10,562) or ACLR with concomitant meniscal surgery (either meniscectomy [n = 8931] or meniscal repair [n = 3267]). There was a gradual decrease in the proportion of meniscectomies (from 80.8% of concomitant procedures in 2010 to 63.8% in 2018), while the proportion of meniscal repairs almost doubled (from 19.2% in 2010 to 36.2% in 2018) (trend, P < .001). ACLR with meniscal repair increased in patients aged 35 to 44 years and 45 to 54 years (trend, P = .027) between 2010 and 2018; at the same time, the proportion of normal weight patients decreased by 17.7%, the proportion of overweight patients increased by 13.2%, and increases were seen in BMI groups corresponding to obesity classes 1 to 3 (trend, P < .001). In 2010, the average BMI of patients undergoing ACLR with meniscectomy versus meniscal repair differed by 2 (P = .004), but by 2018 the difference was nonsignificant (28.83 ± 5.80 vs 28.53 ± 5.73; P = .113).

CONCLUSION

Between 2010 and 2018, there was an upward trend in the proportion of meniscal repairs performed during ACLR, with notable increases in the proportion of repairs being performed on older, overweight, and obese patients.

Inside-out Medial Meniscal Repair: Improved Surgical Exposure With a Sub-semimembranosus Approach

Inside-out meniscal repair is considered the gold standard for reparable tears of the medial and lateral menisci despite the recent popularity of all-inside devices. Accurate suture passage is required to perform a stable repair as well as to prevent inadvertent neurovascular injury from the suture needles. Placement of a deep soft-tissue retractor is necessary to identify and retrieve these needles prior to tying the sutures. Several authors have recommended placement of this retractor in the interval anterior to the gastrocnemius muscle belly and above the semimembranosus tendon. However, we have noted that the needles often pass distal to the retractor when it is placed in this interval owing to the reorientation of the joint line that occurs with the knee in a relatively extended position during suture placement. We describe a modified technique in which the retractor is placed inferior to the semimembranosus, which puts it directly in line with the needles' trajectory. This modification makes inside-out medial meniscal repair safer and more efficient.

Risk factors for all-inside meniscal repair failure in isolation and in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BACKGROUND

This study examines the relationship between meniscus tear presentations and failure rates following all-inside repair in isolation and in conjunction with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

METHODS

Eighty seven consecutive patients undergoing all-inside meniscal repair at a single institution from July 2016 to June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Details of patient presentation, tear type and location, the presence or absence of simultaneous ACL reconstruction, and surgical repair details were recorded to evaluate the relationship between patient characteristics and the primary endpoint of repair failure.

RESULTS

Patients were followed for an average of 2.7 ± 0.8 years. Three patients (3.4%) experienced 30-day complications including 1 deep vein thrombosis and 2 joint aspirations. Within the study time frame, 15 repairs (17.2%) failed, with 10 (11.5%) failing within one year of the initial procedure; the average time to failure was 12.3 ± 9.0 months. Patients undergoing concurrent ACL reconstruction were less likely to experience repair failure (9.7% vs. 36.0%, p = .009), while bucket-handle repairs were more likely to fail during the study period (45.0% vs. 9.0%, p = .001). These trends remained after controlling for tear location, body mass index, and number of sutures (ACL reconstruction Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.229, p = .029; Bucket-handle OR: 9.400, p = .003).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest concurrent ACL reconstruction at the time of meniscal repair is associated with increased repair survival. The all-inside technique may be successfully used across a variety of tear types and locations, although further study of its efficacy in repairing bucket-handle tears is warranted.

All-inside versus inside-out suture techniques in arthroscopic meniscus repair: A prospective randomized study protocol

BACKGROUND

With advancements in our understanding of meniscal function, treatment options for meniscal injuries have evolved considerably over the past few decades. The aim of the current study was to compare the all-inside and inside-out techniques with regard to retear rate, functional outcomes, and perioperative complications in patients who had undergone arthroscopic meniscus repair. We hypothesized that there was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative outcomes after arthroscopic meniscus repair.

METHODS

This study was a prospective randomized blinded study, with a parallel design and an allocation ratio of 1:1 for the treatment groups. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board in our hospital and written informed consent was obtained from all subjects participating in the trial. It was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. A total of 70 patients who meet inclusion criteria are randomized to either all-inside or inside-out group. The primary outcome measure was retear rate. Retear was determined by repeat arthroscopic evaluation of patients with follow-up for symptoms of persistent or new pain, catching, or locking that was possibly related to the meniscal repair. Secondary outcomes included disease-specific quality of life measurement with the Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool, range of motion, operative time, and adverse events at surgery or throughout the follow-up period.

RESULTS

This study has limited inclusion and exclusion criteria and a well-controlled intervention.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry5589).

The Meniscus in Normal and Osteoarthritic Tissues: Facing the Structure Property Challenges and Current Treatment Trends

The treatment of meniscus injuries has recently been facing a paradigm shift toward the field of tissue engineering, with the aim of regenerating damaged and diseased menisci as opposed to current treatment techniques. This review focuses on the structure and mechanics associated with the meniscus. The meniscus is defined in terms of its biological structure and composition. Biomechanics of the meniscus are discussed in detail, as an understanding of the mechanics is fundamental for the development of new meniscal treatment strategies. Key meniscal characteristics such as biological function, damage (tears), and disease are critically analyzed. The latest technologies behind meniscal repair and regeneration are assessed.

No safe zone: The anatomy of the saphenous nerve and its posteromedial branches

BACKGROUND

Following a case of medial meniscal repair via an inside-out repair, a patient developed acute postoperative electric shock-like paresthesias of the proximal medial calf with any knee flexion beyond 80°. Open saphenous nerve exploration revealed entrapment by suture material of an unnamed branch off the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve. Symptoms resolved immediately with release. The objective of the study was to perform a cadaveric study to examine the existence and frequency of these previously under-reported branches of the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve.

METHODS

In 16 knees from eight fresh, matched whole cadavers, the medial structures of the knee were exposed, reproducible anatomical structures were identified, and previously under-described posteromedial branches of the sartorial nerve were identified and measured in relation to surrounding structures and the joint line.

RESULTS

The saphenous nerve, its sartorial and infrapatellar branches, and its posteromedial branches were identified in all specimens. The sartorial nerve divided from the saphenous nerve an average of 4.8 cm proximal to the medial femoral epicondyle. Between one and four further posteromedial branches off the sartorial nerve were identified. These branches formed at a range of 5.3 cm proximal to 3.0 cm distal to the joint line.

CONCLUSIONS

This cadaveric study establishes the consistent presence of a posteromedial branch off the sartorial nerve. It was consistently located near the posteromedial joint line. These branches are at risk for injury during medial meniscus repairs due to entrapment by suture materials, or during other surgical procedures near the posteromedial aspect of the knee.

Popliteal neurovascular bundle is safe during inside-out repair of medial meniscus without a safety incision

PURPOSE

There is a theoretical risk of injury to neurovascular structures during inside-out meniscal repair without a safety incision, although there are limited studies assessing this risk. This simulation study on archival MRI films was performed to assess the risk for the popliteal neurovascular bundle and the peroneal nerve during passage of needles for inside-out meniscus repair without a "safety incision", thereby defining a "safe zone" of the menisci that can be safely repaired using this technique.

METHODS

Archival MRI scans (n = 50) were retrieved and axial sections through the menisci were used for simulation. The needle passage was simulated for different points on the posterior horn and body of lateral and medial menisci at "half-hour" intervals using clock method (15° intervals) with three different portals and two different needle cannulas, resulting in six different scenarios of needle passage for each point on the meniscus. The distance of the needle in each scenario was measured from popliteal vessels (n = 50) and peroneal nerve (n = 10). The value "mean-3SD" was calculated for positive means and "Mean + 3SD" was calculated if the mean was negative. An additional 2 mm was defined as "safe distance". Thus, simulation models in which the mean - 3SD was less than 2 mm (or mean + 3SD was greater than - 2 mm for negative means) were labelled as "unsafe".

RESULTS

Needle passage through medial meniscus at and medial to 1 o'clock position for a right knee (or 11 o'clock position for a left knee) was safe, irrespective of the portal and needle type. For the lateral meniscus, only the equatorial region was found to be safe with this method.

CONCLUSIONS

The popliteal neurovascular bundle is safe during the inside-out medial meniscal repair without a safety incision. For the terminal-most part of the posterior horn, the AM portal and the straight cannula should be avoided. However, this method without safety incision cannot be recommended for lateral meniscus because of the risk to the popliteal vessels and the peroneal nerve. Instead, the inside-out method with a safety incision, or an all-inside method should be used for lateral meniscus.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Modern treatment of meniscal tears

The complex ultrastructure of the meniscus determines its vital functions for the knee, the lower extremity, and the body.

The most recent concise, reliable, and valid classification system for meniscal tears is the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS) Classification, which takes into account the subsequent parameters: tear depth, tear pattern, tear length, tear location/rim width, radial location, location according to the popliteal hiatus, and quality of the meniscal tissue.

It is the orthopaedic surgeon’s responsibility to combine clinical information, radiological images, and clinical experience in an effort to individualize management of meniscal tears, taking into account factors related to the patient and lesion.

Surgeons should strive not to operate in most cases, but to protect, repair or reconstruct, in order to prevent early development of osteoarthritis by restoring the native structure, function, and biomechanics of the meniscus.

Currently, there are three main methods of modern surgical management of meniscus tears: arthroscopic partial meniscectomy; meniscal repair with or without augmentation techniques; and meniscal reconstruction. Meniscus surgery has come a long way from the old slogan, “If it is torn, take it out!” to the currently accepted slogan, “Save the meniscus!” which has guided evolving modern treatment methods for meniscal tears. This last slogan will probably constitute the basis for newer alternative biological treatment methods in the future.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3 DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170067.

Meniscal allograft transplantation using a novel all-arthroscopic technique with specifically designed instrumentation

The present study describes a novel all-arthroscopic technique for medial and lateral meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT). Surgical instruments were specifically designed to assist in the all-arthroscopic approach for MAT. The bone plug attachment technique, either the arthroscopic-assisted or all-arthroscopic approach, attaches bone plugs to the anterior and posterior horns. In the present study, two sets of surgical implements were designed: One to produce bone plugs of predefined sizes in the anterior and posterior horns of the allograft meniscus (bone plug implements) and a second to create bone tunnels in the receptor tibial plateau to hold the bone plugs (bone tunnel implements). The present study demonstrated that an all-arthroscopic approach to MAT was feasible. Furthermore, the specifically designed surgical instruments allowed for consistent preparation of grafts and recipient tissues, contributing to a standardized approach to MAT. The present findings indicate that an all-arthroscopic approach to MAT may be achievable. They also provide the incentive for future clinical studies to directly compare the outcomes and to initiate the standardization of the procedure to optimize MAT and maximize patient outcomes and quality of life.

Multiple hybrid sutures of bucket handle injury on the lateral and medial meniscus of the knee

The objective of the study is to show possibilities of several combinations of suture techniques in a rare bicompartmental bucket handle injury. According to specific injury characteristics, combined suturing techniques were used. The option for different meniscal suture techniques in the two knee compartments allowed the patient, after completing the treatment, to return to his activities with a preserved meniscus. Although meniscectomy continues to be a chosen technique in bucket handle injury, we attempted to show a case of bicompartmental meniscal suture with different techniques. In this, which could be a case of rapid resolution and quick return to activities with bicompartmental meniscectomy, we chose to preserve the menisci with more complex techniques and longer rehabilitation, believing that the preservation of this structure could be extremely valuable in the long term.

All-inside Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair Technique Using a Midbody Accessory Portal

Treatment of symptomatic meniscal tears continues to evolve as we improve our understanding of the biomechanical role of the meniscus and its long-term importance to the health of the knee joint. Suture repair of meniscal tears is challenging, yet the incidence of repairs among our colleagues continues to rise as we aim to preserve meniscal tissue. Many elements of performing a repair are tedious and difficult, including proper meniscal preparation, reduction, mattress suture placement, and fixation. The tear pattern and location present another layer of difficulty. The most widely used all-inside repair devices are harpoon-style devices and present their own challenges in using them without causing harm to the meniscus and surrounding cartilage. In this article, we describe a simple all-inside meniscal repair technique to improve the reproducibility and reliability of meniscal repairs using an accessory midbody meniscal portal and a surgical probe. This ensures proper placement of mattress sutures in a reduced meniscus, with a reduced risk of collateral injury to the meniscus and articular cartilage. Furthermore, this surgical technique is adaptable to any meniscal fixation method to the medial or lateral meniscus.

Polylactic acid (PLA) controlled delivery carriers for biomedical applications

Polylactic acid (PLA) and its copolymers have a long history of safety in humans and an extensive range of applications. PLA is biocompatible, biodegradable by hydrolysis and enzymatic activity, has a large range of mechanical and physical properties that can be engineered appropriately to suit multiple applications, and has low immunogenicity. Formulations containing PLA have also been Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for multiple applications making PLA suitable for expedited clinical translatability. These biomaterials can be fashioned into sutures, scaffolds, cell carriers, drug delivery systems, and a myriad of fabrications. PLA has been the focus of a multitude of preclinical and clinical testing. Three-dimensional printing has expanded the possibilities of biomedical engineering and has enabled the fabrication of a myriad of platforms for an extensive variety of applications. PLA has been widely used as temporary extracellular matrices in tissue engineering. At the other end of the spectrum, PLA's application as drug-loaded nanoparticle drug carriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and micelles, can encapsulate otherwise toxic hydrophobic anti-tumor drugs and evade systemic toxicities. The clinical translation of these technologies from preclinical experimental settings is an ever-evolving field with incremental advancements. In this review, some of the biomedical applications of PLA and its copolymers are highlighted and briefly summarized.

Inside-Out Repair for Radial Meniscus Tears

Understanding of meniscal function through basic science, natural history, and biomechanics has highlighted the importance of preserving the meniscus to maintain normal knee biomechanics. Tears that may alter these biomechanics can contribute to the progressive nature of degenerative joint disease in the knee. Radial tears result in the disruption of the circumferential fibers causing inability of the native meniscus to resist normal hoop stresses, thereby leading to increased focal areas of pressure that cause complications such as early onset arthrosis. In this technical note, we describe our preferred operative technique to repair radial meniscal tears using an arthroscopic inside-out approach with satisfactory clinical outcomes and healing response.

Inside-out meniscus repair

Meniscus repair over resection, when feasible, should be strongly considered in an effort to preserve meniscus integrity and function, especially in younger patients. Currently, a number of techniques and implants may be used to achieve a successful result. Although all-inside meniscus repair devices have evolved significantly since their introduction and have become the repair technique of choice for many surgeons, the classic inside-out repair technique is still very useful to have in one's armamentarium. Though less popular because of the ease of current-generation fixators, the inside-out technique can still offer advantages for those surgeons who are proficient. With the versatility to address most tear patterns, the ability to deliver sutures with smaller needle diameters, and proven long-term results, it has been considered the gold standard in meniscus repair. We review the inside-out repair technique for both a medial and lateral meniscus tear with some helpful tips when performing the technique, and we present a video demonstration of the lateral meniscus repair technique.

All-inside meniscal repair devices and techniques

Techniques and devices for meniscal repair are evolving, including for all-inside meniscal repair. The first-generation all-inside meniscal repair devices were simplistic in design, but their technical difficulties and risks led to the development of second-generation devices. These devices employed the suture anchor concept for repair and confirmed the safety of use through standard anterior arthroscopic portals. Third-generation devices introduced the idea of rigid, bioabsorbable materials; unfortunately, these demonstrated higher failure and complication rates compared with other repair techniques. They were also limited in their ability to adjust compression and tension across the repair. Now, fourth-generation devices have been developed that are flexible, suture-based, and allow for variable compression and retensioning across the tear. Each device has its own specifications and technical nuances. With a comprehensive understanding of the current devices available, the industry and surgeons may continue in the development of safer, more successful, user-friendly and cost-effective all-inside devices.