Meniscal repair using biodegradable arrows

ABSTRACT

The authors treated 39 patients with torn meniscal injuries by arthroscopic direct fixation using Bionx Meniscal Arrows[MT] [Bionx/Biofix, Bioscience, Tampere, Finland], with follow up between 6 and 26 months [mean 23]. There were 25 males and 14 females injuring 32 medial and 7 lateral menisci, an associated ACL injury was present in 7 cases. Patients' age ranged between 9 and 46 years [mean 27]. The clinical status of the tibio-femoral articulation was the main stay of follow up assessment, while 13 patients were followed up by post operative MRI, and 6 patients by 2[nd] look arthroscopy for criteria of complete, partial and non healing. In 3 patients ACL reconstruction was done, 2 in the same sessions as the arrows, and one after 6 weeks. Postoperative hinge bracing at 20°-70° was used in 22 patients, POP cylinder in 17 patients. Thirty-five patients were clinically asymptomatic in the tibio-femoral articulation [89.7%]. 15 patients [83%] returned to their athletic activity [there were 18 athletes], while the complications were 5 posterior knee pain, 4 effusion and one re-tear, the effusion and pain seemed to be related to long arrows, causing paramenisal synoviocapsular irritation, they subsided spontaneously over 6 months. Complete or partial healing, as judged by second look arthroscopy and MRI, did not correlate well with the functional outcome: