Microvasculature of the human medial meniscus: operative findings.
The purpose of our study was to weigh the probability of a successful meniscus repair on the basis of the microvasculature of the human medial meniscus. In a series of 105 patients who underwent an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between January 1985 and December 1986, we chose the 40 patients who had a subtotal medial meniscectomy (38%) to study the microvasculature of the human medial meniscus adequately; the other patients had either an intact meniscus (23%), a meniscus repair (29%), or an already removed meniscus (10%). Forty medial menisci, from 40 male patients with an average age of 27 years, having an anterolateral and/or anteromedial chronic knee laxity and an associated meniscal pathology, were subdivided into two groups: (a) 20 tears restricted to the posterior horn, and (b) 20 bucket-handle tears observed under light microscopy. Meaningful capillary plexuses penetrating into the meniscal stroma were found in 18 of 40 menisci (45%). They were easier to identify in posterior horn tears (55%) than in bucket-handle tears (35%), and were found especially in younger patients (22 years on the average). Therefore, we encourage meniscus repairs even in chronic tears, particularly in younger patients and in posterior-horn tears.
Cipolla
M
M
Clinica Valle Giulia, Rome, Italy.
Cerullo
G
G
Puddu
G
G
D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries