Purpose: To report on the results of 12 complete radial tears of the meniscus treated using arthroscopic inside-out repair with fibrin clots, the results showed good meniscal healing and excellent clinical outcomes.
Methods: From 2007 to 2009, 12 patients with complete radial tears of the meniscus were treated by arthroscopic inside-out repair with fibrin clots. In all patients, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form and Lysholm score were determined pre- and post-operatively. We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and if indicated, we performed a second-look arthroscopic examination.
Results: At a mean of 30 ± 4 postoperative months, the Lysholm score and IKDC subjective knee score had improved from 65 ± 6 and 57 ± 7 to 94 ± 3 and 92 ± 3, respectively. Eleven of 12 cases showed complete healing on follow-up MRI. Six of 7 patients undergoing a second-look arthroscopic examination had healed completely.
Conclusion: This study shows successful meniscal repairs using fibrin clots in complete radial tears. This surgical procedure appears to be a good treatment method for complete radial tear of the meniscus.
Level of evidence: Case series, level IV.