title: Surgical Techniques and Outcomes of Repairing Meniscal Radial Tears: A Systematic Review.
abstract: To systematically review meniscal radial tear repair procedures and compare the techniques, outcomes, and complications.
  
  
  
  Studies were identified through a systematic review of the literature using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed (1980-2014), Medline (1980-2014), and Embase. Inclusion criteria included a minimum follow-up of 24 months, English language, and publications from 1980 or later. Exclusion criteria were surgical techniques not reporting follow-up, biomechanical studies, cadaver/anatomic studies, and non-radial tear meniscal repair procedures. Meniscal radial repair, meniscal radial tear, meniscal radial tear repair, radial repair and radial tear were used as search terms.
  
  
  
  A total of 6 studies (55 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The mean duration of follow-up ranged from 24 to 71 months. Of the 6 studies, 5 reported radial tears to the lateral meniscus and 1 study reported cases of both medial and lateral meniscal radial tears. Two studies reported different inside-out repair techniques, 2 studies reported the use of an all-inside anchor-based repair system, 1 study reported an all-inside repair technique with absorbable sutures, and 1 study reported an inside-out repair with fibrin clots. Average postoperative Lysholm scores were reported in all 6 studies and ranged from 86.9 to 95.6. Average postoperative Tegner activity scores were reported in 4 studies and ranged from 1 to 6.7. The majority of studies concluded that their techniques produced satisfactory healing of the radial tear, without serious subsequent complications.
  
  
  
  Radial repair techniques differed among studies; however, postoperative subjective outcomes revealed patient improvement with repairing radial tears. With the increasing concern of long-term osteoarthritis after meniscectomy, meniscal preservation with repair of radial tears results in improved short-term clinical outcomes; however, long-term outcomes remain unknown.
  
  
  
  Level IV, systematic review of level IV studies.
authors.affiliation: Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, Colorado, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Samuel G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.affiliation: The Steadman Clinic, Vail, Colorado, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, Colorado, U.S.A.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Civitarese
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, Colorado, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Chase S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Vail, Colorado, U.S.A.; The Steadman Clinic, Vail, Colorado, U.S.A.. Electronic address: drlaprade@sprivail.org.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: LaPrade
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D065466:Lysholm Knee Score; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013537:Sutures; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome