Biomechanical Comparison of an All-Inside Meniscal Repair Device Construct Versus Pullout Sutures for Arthroscopic Transtibial Repair of Posterior Medial Meniscus Root Tears: A Matched-Pair Cadaveric Study

Age influence on resistance and deformation of the human sutured meniscal horn in the immediate postoperative period

Introduction: To preserve knee function, surgical repair is indicated when a meniscal root disinsertion occurs. However, this surgery has not yet achieved complete recovery of the joint´s natural biomechanics, with the meniscus-suture interface identified as a potentially determining factor. Knowing the deformation and resistance behavior of the sutured meniscal horn and whether these properties are preserved as the patient ages could greatly contribute to improving repair outcomes. Methods: A cadaveric experimental study was conducted on human sutured menisci classified into three n = 22 age groups (young ≤55; 55 < middle-aged ≤75; 75 < old) were subjected to load-to-failure test by suture pulling. Meniscal thickness at the suture hole was measured and the applied traction force and tissue deformation in the suture area in the direction of traction were recorded during the test. The traction load that initiated the meniscal cut-out, F c , maximum load borne by the meniscus, F u , tissue stress at the cut-out initiation, S c , and equivalent stiffness modulus at the suture area, m s , were calculated. Results: At the tissue level, the resistance in terms of S c decrease with age (young: 47.2 MPa; middle-aged: 44.7 MPa; old: 33.8 MPa) being significantly different between the young and the old group (p = 0.015). Mean meniscal thickness increased with age (young: 2.50 mm; middle-aged: 2.92 mm; old: 3.38 mm; p = 0.001). Probably due to thickening, no differences in resistance were found at the specimen level, i.e., in F c (overall mean 58.2 N) and F u (overall mean 73.6 N). As for elasticity, m s was lower in the old group than in the young group (57.5 MPa vs. 113.6 MPa, p = 0.02) and the middle-aged one (57.5 MPa vs. 108.0 MPa, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Regarding the influence of age on the sutured meniscal horn tissue, in vitro experimentation revealed that meniscal horn specimens older than 75 years old had a more elastic tissue which was less resistant to cut-out than younger menisci at the suture hole area. However, a thickening of the meniscal horns with age, which was also found, leveled out the difference in the force that initiated the tear, as well as in the maximum force borne by the meniscus in the load-to-failure test.

Benefits of Meniscal Repair in Selected Patients Aged 60 Years and Older

Background

Little is known about the benefits and outcomes of meniscal repair in patients older than 60 years.

Purpose

To (1) report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of meniscal repair in patients aged ≥60 years and compare them with matched patients who underwent meniscectomy and (2) identify procedural failures.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods

We included 32 knees in 32 patients aged ≥60 years (20 female, 12 male; mean age, 64.5 ± 4.6 years) who underwent meniscal repair surgery at a single medical institution between 2010 and 2020. Patients were matched according to age, sex, body mass index, and meniscal tear type with a comparison cohort who underwent meniscectomy (n = 49 patients [49 knees]; 32 female, 17 male). For all patients, demographic information, clinical history, physical examination findings, treatment details, and radiographic images were reviewed and analyzed. At final follow-up (mean, 42.2 months; range, 13-128 months), patients completed the 2000 International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Knee Evaluation Form, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Lysholm score. Clinical failure was defined as revision surgery and/or progression to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A matched-pairs t test was used to analyze differences between the 2 treatment groups, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to determine the rates of knee osteoarthritis and progression to TKA.

Results

The majority of patients had a medial meniscal tear (72.8%), whereas the lateral meniscus was torn in 27.2% of cases. Most tears were located in the meniscal root (56.8%), followed by the posterior horn (34.6%) and midbody (8.6%). At final follow-up, all outcome scores were higher in the repair group compared with the meniscectomy group (IKDC, 78.9 ± 13.4 vs 56.0 ± 15.4; KOOS, 86.6 ± 11.9 vs 61.7 ± 16.2; Lysholm, 88.3 ± 13.3 vs 68.7 ± 15.2, respectively; P < .001 for all). Clinical failure was observed in 22% of patients in the repair group.

Conclusion

All clinical outcome scores were higher in the meniscal repair group compared with the matched meniscectomy group at final follow-up. The clinical failure rate of the repair group was 22%. These findings support meniscal repair in selected patients aged ≥60 years.