Histologic change of the meniscus and cartilage tissue after meniscal suture

The influence of suturing on cell infiltration into the meniscus and surrou nding tissue is not well known. Histologic changes in the meniscus after su turing and prediction of histologic changes using magnetic resonance imagin g were studied. Forty knees in 20 mongrel dogs were studied using four type s of 4-0 suture material: nonabsorbable monofilament, nonabsorbable braided , absorbable monofilament, and absorbable braided. Each type of suture mate rial was used for meniscal suture on eight knees each. The other eight knee s were not subjected to meniscal suture, Specimens obtained at 1 and 3 mont hs were studied by magnetic resonance imaging and light microscopic analysi s. The maximum width of change of meniscal tissue was measured. Changes fro m the nonabsorbable suture group were smaller than that of the absorbable s uture group in magnetic resonance imaging. Histologic changes as seen by li ght microscope were larger in the absorbable group than in the nonabsorbabl e group at 1 and 3 months after surgery. Injury was found in the articular cartilage of the femoral condyle in the nonabsorbable braided suture group. Histologic changes were significantly greater when changes in magnetic res onance imaging signal intensity were larger, The current study showed that nonabsorbable monofilament suture material results in the least damage to t he meniscus and surrounding tissue.