ARTHROSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF MENISCAL ROOT TEAR INJURY

Abstract

Background: Meniscal root tears are becoming increasingly recognized. They can cause rapid progressive arthritis. Objective: The purpose of this study was to document the radiological and functional outcome of arthroscopic management of meniscal root tears injuries. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 15 patients with 15 meniscal root tears from January, 2017 till January, 2019 presenting to AL - Hussein hospital treated by partial meniscectomy or pullout sutures repair. This study included 9 males (9 knees) and 6 females (6 knees). Results: The mean age for repair was 36.53 ± 9.12 years (range, 23 to 50 years) and for partial meniscectomy was 56.2 ± 3.96 years (range, 50 to 60 years). Of the 15 knees, 10 were right knees and 5 were left. All clinical outcome measures significantly improved after surgery according to Lysholm and IKDC score. The mean Lysholm score for group of meniscal root repair (group A) increased from 64.5 ± 12.35 to 88.10 ± 10.07 (P ˂ 0.001), and the mean Lysholm score for partial meniscectomy (group B) increased from 47.20 ± 11.32 to 86.80 ± 9.41 (P ˂ 0.001) postoperatively. The mean IKDC score for root tear repair increased from 56.10 ± 10.97 to 76.70 ± 8.55 (P ˂ 0.001), and the mean IKDC score for partial meniscectomy increased from 41.40 ± 10.85 to 59.60 ± 8.33 (P ˂ 0.001). Conclusions: Meniscal root repair has increased in popularity and when done in selected patients resulted in a high rate of healing and restoring the ability of the meniscus to dissipate axial tibiofemoral loads, thereby slowing or halting arthritic progression.