Transtibial Lateral Meniscal Root Repair Technique to Appose Remnant Root With Torn Body: The Double Compression Knot

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions are often performed with associated procedures, most commonly for associated meniscal tears. The lateral meniscal root tear is a commonly associated injury, which increases rotational instability and results in altered tibiofemoral biomechanics. Lateral meniscectomy results in poorer functional and long-term outcomes, making repair vital. The position of the lateral root tear makes its repair technique complicated. Because of the proximity to vessels posteriorly, the all-inside technique is considered potentially unsafe, and current transtibial repair techniques fail to appose the body with the root remnant. In the lineage of Laprade, who proclaimed the use of a transtibial suture for radial tears elsewhere in the knee in order to reduce the shear force, we describe a transtibial technique that optimizes meniscal apposition, theoretically improving the repair biomechanics and is technically easier to perform in comparison to suture hook techniques with one tunnel and one suture.