The treatment of bucket handle meniscus tear using "the pulling suture technique": A new surgical technique

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy represents a challenge due to view obstruction by the tight posterior joint line. We are describing a new technique to overcome this obstacle using "the pulling suture technique" which is a simple, reproducible, and safe way to perform partial meniscectomy.

CASE PRESENTATION

After a twisting knee injury, a 30-year-old man was complaining of left knee pain and locking. An irreparable complex bucket handle medial meniscus tear was found during diagnostic knee arthroscopy and partial meniscectomy was performed using the pulling suture technique. After visualizing medial knee compartment, a vicryl suture was introduce and looped around the torn fragment then secured by a sliding locking knot. The suture was pulled, and the torn fragment was placed under tension throughout the procedure to facilitate exposure and debridement of the tear. Then, the free fragment was extracted in one piece.

DISCUSSION

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of the bucket-handle tears is a commonly performed procedure. Due to view obstruction, cutting of the posterior part of the tear is a challenging step. Any attempts of blind resection without proper visualization can lead to articular cartilage damage or insufficient debridement. In contrast to most described techniques to overcome this problem, the pulling suture technique doesn't require any accessory portals or additional equipments.

CONCLUSION

Using "the pulling suture technique" improves resection by allowing a better view of both ends of the tear and securing the resected part by the suture, which facilitates its removal as a one unit.

Bilateral scapular osteochondroma in Multiple Hereditary Exostosis patient presented with bilateral shoulder pain treated with arthroscopic and open excision: Case report

Introduction and importance

Multiple etiologies for snapping shoulder syndrome have been described in the existing literature. Scapular osteochondroma is considered as a rare etiology and bilateral scapular osteochondroma have rarely been reported to date. Patient can present with discomfort, pain and crepitation. Multiple surgical methods were described and the patient underwent two different surgical methods with preferable outcome for arthroscopic side.

Case presentation

24 year-old male who is known case of Multiple Hereditary Exostosis (MHE) since childhood presented with bilateral shoulder pain and snapping scapula. Computed tomography demonstrated bilateral ventral scapular osteochondromas. One side treated with open excision and other side with arthroscopic excision.

Clinical discussion

Patient exhibited resolution of symptoms, restoration of function on both sides, but he reported cosmetic preference over arthroscopic side and faster recovery from surgery as well in terms of pain resolution and rehabilitation.

Conclusion

Osteochondroma should by one of differential diagnoses for snapping shoulder syndrome. Despite arthroscopic excision is technically demanding, it carries better outcome compared to open excision.

Double bucket handle tear of the superior labrum in a young patient presented with shoulder instability treated with arthroscopic debridement: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

The two major etiologies of shoulder superior labral tears anterior to posterior (SLAP) are traumatic and degenerative processes. Bucket handle tears of the superior labrum represent one-third of labral lesions. However, in this article, we present a double bucket handle tear which has been reported once in the literature.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 25-year-old male presented with complaint of chronic pain in his right shoulder with a remote history of traumatic dislocation. Physical examination revealed a positive apprehension test. Shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a superior labral tear with a Hill-Sach lesion. Arthroscopy showed a double bucket handle tear of superior labrum and mild biceps tendonitis along with Bankart lesion. The tear was resected and the Bankart lesion was repaired followed by supervised physical therapy. Good clinical outcomes in form of resolution of pain and shoulder instability at six months were obtained.

DISCUSSION

SLAP tears are common shoulder lesion that is reported differently in the literature. Arthroscopic studies had reported the incidence between 3.9%-11.8. The diagnosis of such lesion relies on the clinical presentation and imaging. Knesek et al. classified SLAP lesions based on the integrity of the biceps anchor and the type of labral tear (Knesek et al., 2013). The standard treatment of symptomatic SLAP lesions is Arthroscopic debridement. However, non-operative management was described in the literature.

CONCLUSION

Double bucket handle injuries of the superior labrum are reported in literature once. These lesions can be treated with arthroscopic debridement and Bankart repair and followed by supervised physical therapy.