Arthroscopic Repair for Parrot Beak Tear of Lateral Meniscus with Reduction Suture and Inside-Out Technique

Abstract

Parrot beak tear is a white-white meniscal injury that often occurs in isolated injuries. Partial meniscectomy for parrot beak tears is often recommended, owing to the avascular zone; however, partial meniscectomy, especially with the lateral meniscus, has a high failure rate for return to sports, leading to residual meniscus extrusion and lateral compartment osteoarthritis. Thus, we have developed a repair technique to preserve the parrot beak tear of the avascular zone. This is a modification of the inside-out repair with additional reduction sutures. We recommend this procedure as a technique for repairing avascular parrot beak tears of the lateral meniscus.