Clinical and MRI evaluation of meniscal tears repaired with bioabsorbable arrows.
OBJECTIVE
Excision of meniscal tissue has been shown to increase the risk of degenerative changes of the knee joint. Whenever possible, meniscus repair has become the procedure of choice for treatment of meniscal tears.


METHODS
The present retrospective study evaluated the healing results of 77 meniscal ruptures treated with the an all-inside technique (Biofix meniscus arrow). The study group consisted of 73 patients with 77 longitudinal, vertical meniscal ruptures treated at Helsinki University Hospital between the beginning of January 1997 and the end of March 2001. The patients who had not received secondary surgery for failed repair during the follow-up period were examined clinically and with MRI.


RESULTS
Fifty-one out of 77 meniscal ruptures (66%) healed clinically. In repairs performed in conjunction with ligament reconstruction the healing rate was higher (79%) than in the isolated tears (56%). The poorest results were seen in the very long vertical tears with luxation of the meniscus (38% healing rate).


CONCLUSIONS
Bioabsorbable arrows offer a good alternative for treatment of meniscal ruptures, but the arrows alone do not seem to be sufficient to provide a reliable long-lasting result in the repair of very unstable meniscal ruptures.
Tielinen
L
L
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Laura.Tielinen@hus.fi
Lindahl
J
J
Koskinen
S
S
Hirvensalo
E
E
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome