Hipermovilidad del tercio posterior del menisco lateral secundario a lesión de los ligamentos meniscotibiales. Estudio cadavérico

Abstract

Introduction: the menisci are semilunar structures formed by fibrocartilage, located between the femur and the tibia. The lateral meniscus is more mobile due to its insertions through the tibial meniscus and popliteal meniscal ligaments. The medial meniscus has a displacement of 2-3 mm compared to a displacement of 9-10 mm for the external meniscus. It has been described in the world literature that meniscal hypermobility is secondary to injury to the popliteal meniscal ligaments (main stabilizers), however a cadaveric study was carried out where it was shown that the meniscal popliteal ligaments play a secondary role. The objective of this study is to demonstrate that injury to the meniscotibial ligaments is the cause of external meniscal hypermobility.

Materials and methods: the cadaveric study was carried out in 2022 at Arthrex, Naples, Florida, United States. Prior to the arthroscopic evaluation, section of the meniscotibial ligaments was performed in the posterior third of the lateral meniscus, maintaining the popliteal meniscal ligaments and the posterior root insertion. Subsequently, the arthroscopic assessment is performed, showing anterior and superior translation of the posterior third of the external meniscus, and meniscal fixation is performed.

Results: by fixing the posterior third of the lateral meniscus with a transosseous technique, in a failure or insufficiency of the meniscotibial ligaments, complete stability of the meniscus is achieved.

Conclusion: the main stability of the posterior third of the lateral meniscus is given by the peripheral insertion of the meniscotibial ligaments, so external meniscal hypermobility is not due to injury to the popliteal meniscal ligaments.