title: Results of arthroscopic repair of partial- or full-thickness longitudinal medial meniscal tears by single or double vertical sutures using the inside-out technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although numerous studies have assessed arthroscopic repair of meniscal tears, no study has described the repair of partial- or full-thickness longitudinal medial meniscal tears using single or double vertical sutures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the intermediate-term results of medial meniscal tears repaired with single or double vertical sutures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors evaluated the results of 112 longitudinal medial meniscal tears treated with inside-out single or double vertical sutures, with or without anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, based on the clinical resolution of symptoms, the Lysholm knee scoring scale, and the Tegner activity scale. Re-examination was also performed by magnetic resonance imaging after the repair. The length of the tears was evaluated arthroscopically. Eighty-five tears of 112 were >2 cm in length, and 27 were tears ≤2 cm. Eighty-nine (79.4%) of the 112 repairs were performed in conjunction with ACL reconstructions, and the remaining 23 (20.6%) repairs were performed in ACL-intact knees. The tear type of the menisci in our study was full thickness in 66 (58.9%) cases and partial thickness in 46 (41.1%) cases. Double vertical sutures were used for full-thickness tears, and single vertical sutures were used for partial-thickness tears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cases were evaluated after a mean follow-up duration of 49.3 months (range, 12-88 months). Clinical and radiological examination results determined that 99 (88.4%) meniscal repairs had healed, and the remaining 13 cases (10.6%) were considered to be failures. The healing rate of the full-thickness group was 80.3%, while in the partial-thickness group, the rate was 100%. The mean Lysholm score improved significantly from a preoperative value of 63.8 to a postoperative value of 89.5 (P < .001). The mean Tegner activity score was 3.3 preoperatively and 6.7 postoperatively (P < .001). Logistic regression analysis found that concurrent ACL reconstruction, tear length, and smoking as factors had a significant effect on meniscal healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single or double vertical sutures using the inside-out technique provide a high rate of healing in longitudinal medial meniscal tears.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Acibadem Kadikoy Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. dr.haklar@superonline.com
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Haklar
authors: Ferdi
authors: F
authors: Donmez
authors: Serdar Hakan
authors: SH
authors: Basaran
authors: Mehmet Kerem
authors: MK
authors: Canbora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D054544:Arthroplasty, Subchondral; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult