A KNOWN TECHNIQUE FOR MENISCAL REPAIR IN COMMON PRACTICE

In this retrospective study, we calculated the healing rate of menisca l repairs performed with an outside-in technique. We describe complica tions encountered and evaluate some known criteria used in the decisio n to perform a meniscal repair instead of partial meniscectomy. Includ ed is a brief description of the surgical technique and of the trauma type and the meniscal lesions that were repaired. The technique has a high degree of success (74% of the meniscal repairs survived during a mean follow-up of 3.5 years). Although there is a 25% complication rat e, no serious or permanent complications were added by repairing menis ci instead of performing a partial meniscectomy. For this reason we th ink saving even a relatively low percentage of menisci may be worthwhi le. We can also conclude that an anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee that is stable can still have a good result in meniscal repair, w ithout performing cruciate reconstruction. In each case, however, indi vidual patient issues such as age, activity level, and associated lesi ons have to be considered.