Reparación de lesiones meniscales horizontales. Resultados a dos años de seguimiento

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: horizontal-cleavage meniscus tears begin at the inner edge of the meniscus and continue toward the capsule, dividing the meniscus in to a superior and inferior surface. They are typically associated to degenerative tears, therefore mainly affect elder people. Classically, treatment consisted of partial meniscectomy of either superior or inferior surface, resulting in a compartment overload and developing degenerative changes and instability. The latest publications shows that this type of tears can be repaired with several techniques. The aim of this study was to show the treatment for horizontal cleavage meniscus tears, by displaying a detailed evolution of the used techniques in a case series, evaluating results and outcomes, failure rate and return to sport.

Materials and methods: twenty-four patients who underwent and arthroscopic repair of horizontal cleavage tears between 2014 and 2018 at Hospital Universitario Austral and Sanatorio Mapaci where retrospectively reviewed. We review the quantity and type of meniscal sutures, post-operative pain through Visual Analog Scale, Lysholm score and IKDC at two years follow-up. Also, we evaluated return to sports and complications.

Results: the age average was of 27.8 years old. Eight patients where females and sixteen males. The most affected meniscus was the lateral in nineteen cases, and the medial in five. In three cases a medial collateral ligament (MCL) pie-crust technique was required when de medial meniscus was repaired. In ten cases a concomitant ACL reconstruction surgery was performed. The mean number of sutures per patient was four. Lysholm score at two years follow-up was of 94, IKDC of 88 and AVS of 1/10. The isolated cases returned to sports at six months after surgery, and the ones with ACL associated surgery between nine and ten months.

Conclusion: by preserving more meniscal tissue, meniscal repair of horizontal-cleavage tears provides good functional outcomes at mid-term follow up. We believe that it is time for a change when approaching this type of injury, "treatment of choice" in horizontal cleavage injuries should not be partial or total meniscectomy. Instead, the main goal should be, whenever possible, meniscal tissue preservation.