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. 2021 Dec 9;8(1):114.
doi: 10.1186/s40634-021-00433-z.

Lateral meniscal posterior root tears experience acceptable healing status after transtibial repair technique

Cathrine Aga  1 , Ingerid Baksaas Aasen  2 , Carsten Brocker  2 , Nina Jullum Kise  2 , Stig Heir  2
Affiliations

Lateral meniscal posterior root tears experience acceptable healing status after transtibial repair technique

Cathrine Aga et al. J Exp Orthop. .

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate patient MRI results, demography and clinical outcome following transtibial repair of lateral and medial meniscal posterior root tears.

Methods: Patients treated with transtibial repairs of posterior meniscal root tears from 2015 through 2018 performed pre- and postoperative MRI scans. Outcome measures were continuity/discontinuity of the meniscal root and change in meniscal extrusion on MRI. Other outcomes were KOOS, Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale and the Global Rate of Change (GRoC) score for function and pain at follow-up.

Study design: Retrospective case-series.

Results: Of 41 patients, 36 attended follow-up at mean 26 (12-38) months postoperatively. At follow-up, 11 out of 18 lateral meniscus posterior root tear (LMPRT) versus 5 out of 18 medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) repairs were classified as healed. Meniscal extrusion decreased in LMPRTs from of 2.3 ± 1.5 mm to 1.4 ± 1.09 mm (p = 0.080) and increased in MMPRTs from 3.1 ± 1.6 mm to 4.8 ± 1.9 mm (p = 0.005) at FU (between-group difference, p < 0.001). LMPRT repairs were associated with ACL injury and additional meniscal injury and were younger and with lower BMI. No between-group differences were found for KOOS, Lysholm or GRoC Function scores. Tegner scale was higher and GRoC Pain score lower in the LMPRT group compared to the MMPRTs.

Conclusion: Following transtibial repair for meniscal posterior root repairs, the LMPRTs had a higher frequency of healing, whereas most MMPRTs continued to extrude, despite surgical intervention. The study confirmed that LMPRTs and MMPRTs differ in demography and associated injuries.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The figures present a (a) non-healed, (b) partially healed and (c) a healed medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) repair
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flow chart posterior meniscal root repairs
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Change in meniscal extrusion (mm) from pre-to postoperatively for the LMPRTs (lateral meniscus posterior root tears) and MMPRT (medial meniscus posterior root tears)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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