The surgical approach to lateral meniscal repair

Easy and Safe All-Inside Suture Technique for Posterior Horn Tears of Lateral Meniscus Using Standard Anteromedial and Anterolateral Portals

The importance of the lateral meniscus in weight bearing, distribution of force, shock absorption, articular cartilage protection, proprioception, stabilization of the joint, and joint lubrication is well known. Surgeons currently agree on the importance of preserving the menisci. Different suture techniques have been standardized. These include outside-in, inside-out, and all-inside techniques. The all-inside technique can be used to repair lesions of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. However, this technique presents important disadvantages, such as the necessity for an accessory portal and a high risk of neurovascular damage. For these reasons, we have developed a technique in which a suture hook and a shuttle relay are used to pass the suture wire through the meniscal lesion of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus with an all-inside technique, without the use of accessory portals and cannulas, with a standard 30° arthroscopic camera.

Displacement of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus into posterolateral compartment: an unusual injury pattern

We report a case of acute ACL injury with an unusual lateral meniscal tear pattern. The entire posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was avulsed from its attachments while remaining in continuity with the body of the meniscus. It was displaced posteriorly and laterally to the popliteus tendon so that it was not immediately visible at the time of arthroscopy. This type of displacement of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus is difficult to identify at arthroscopy and has not previously been described in the literature to our knowledge. We recommend to surgeons who encounter an absent posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to consider this injury pattern.

Lateral meniscus repair in a professional ice hockey goaltender: a case report with a 5-year follow-up

STUDY DESIGN

Case report of a professional ice hockey goaltender who underwent an arthroscopically assisted lateral meniscus repair.

BACKGROUND

Rehabilitation of isolated meniscal repairs is not well documented in the literature. There is little knowledge about the healing time and the choice of rehabilitation exercises to be applied to a repaired meniscus. The objective of this case report is to describe a criterion-based, supervised, sport-specific rehabilitation protocol for a high-level athlete with a lateral meniscus repair from the first postoperative day until return to competitive sport, including a 5-year follow-up.

CASE DESCRIPTION

The criterion-based protocol used with this athlete was based on a sport-specific neuromuscular rehabilitation approach. Data collected included range of motion, strength, neuromuscular control, and magnetic resonance images.

OUTCOMES

This high-level athlete was able to return to sport 103 days after surgery and no reinjury of the lateral meniscus occurred up to 5 years after surgery.

DISCUSSION

The sport-specific, criterion-based, supervised rehabilitation program described in this case report showed a safe return to sport and a good long-term outcome.