title: Second-look arthroscopy with removal of bioabsorbable tacks.
abstract: Eleven years after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) (not reconstructed), a 36-year-old dancer reinjured her knee and required arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. At arthroscopy, the medial meniscus had a bucket-handle tear that was repaired by using three bioabsorbable tacks. The ACL was then repaired in the usual manner. Because of persistent posterior knee pain throughout her rehabilitation, we performed "second-look" arthroscopy 14 weeks after reconstruction. The meniscus had healed and was stable; however, tack motion was evident and the tacks were easily removed. Inspection of the tacks showed that the barbs had been resorbed. The patient recovered uneventfully, and pain-free flexion 28 days after surgery was 0 degrees-136 degrees. We believe this to be the first reported case demonstrating the early stages of tack degradation in meniscal repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Carmel Health System, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003615:Dancing / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation