Open Men iscal Repair of the Knee Joint

Oh, In Suk; Kang, Ki Dong

Abstract

The meniscus has improtant functions of shock absorption, load transmission, lubrication and significant contribution to stability of the knee. Accordingly, repair rather than excision can be expectd to be satisfactory and functional teatment for knee joint. We had Repaired 56 cases of meniscal tears from March, 1987 to September of 1992, among which 42 cases were followed up for at least 12 months to 60 months at most(in average 36 months). The results were as follows; 1) In medial meniscal tears, 26 cases were acute, while five were chronic. As for the lateral meniscus, acute and chronic teats were observed in nine and two cases, respectively. 2) Eleven of the 35 acute tears were associated with anterior cruciate ligament tears, while three of seven chronic tears were associated with anterior cruciate ligament tears. 3) Second-look arthroscopic examinations were performed on nine repaired cases. Retears occurred in two cases and seven cases revealed healing at repair sites. 4) Two cases(5%) out of 42 repaired menisci were return during follow-up. One was a case of isolated meniscal tear and the other was associated with rupture of anterior cruciate ligament. 5) Two return cases were repaired in the chronic stage of more than one year after trauma. 6) The standing radiographs which were taken in full extension and 45 flexion on eight out of 13 patients, who had been followed up for more than 4 years showed intact joint space without narrowing.