Summary

The absence of adjuvant techniques during meniscal suturing does not seem to negatively influence the clinical success rate of the suture.

Abstract

Purpose

Suture of meniscal lesions is currently recommended, and several adjuvant techniques have been proposed to optimize meniscal healing. The aim of this study was to analyze the results at 10 years follow-up of a consecutive series of arthroscopic "all inside" meniscal sutures performed without any adjuvant technique.

Methods

A single-center retrospective study was carried out. All patients were re-interviewed by telephone after 10 years. The primary endpoint was the rate of secondary meniscectomy. The survival rate of the initial suture (with the criterion of "death" being the need for a repeat operation on the sutured meniscus) and the survival rate of the sutured meniscus (including any repeat suture) were calculated.

Results

73 cases were included, with concomitant reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in 31 cases. 20 patients required re-intervention on the initially sutured meniscus within a postoperative period of 6 to 96 months: 12 cases of partial meniscectomy (16%) and 8 cases of repeat suture (11%), none of whom underwent subsequent meniscectomy. The meniscectomy rate was 16%, not statistically different from the expected rate of 20% (p=0.45). The survival rate of the initial meniscal suture at 10 years was 67%. The rate of initially sutured meniscus at 10 years was 79%.

Conclusion

This study confirms the long-term success of meniscal sutures. The absence of adjuvant techniques during meniscal suturing does not seem to negatively influence the clinical success rate of the suture. Abandoning these procedures could lead to a broadening of the indications for meniscal suturing.