SPORTS TRAUMATOLOGY - PART I 

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2010 October;61(5):441-8

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Meniscal root pathology. Etiology, diagnosis and treatment

Mariani P. P.

Università “Foro Italico”, Roma, Italia

The purpose of this study was to define the clinical features and characteristics of radial tears in the root of posterior horn of medial and lateral meniscus and to report the outcome of the treatment. The radial tear, called also as meniscal root avulsion, may be located at medial meniscus and occurs after injury or degenerative changes of knee medial compartment. The meniscal root avulsion of lateral meniscus is associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. These injuries lead to abnormal stress with peripheral subluxation for the damage of meniscal peripheral fibers with loss of hoop strain. The clinical assessment of root avulsion is challenging even for experienced surgeon. The indications for repair are constantly expanding. On the lateral side, concomitant ACL reconstruction and lateral root repair comprise one indication. On the medial side, there are two unique injury patterns and indications, one acute and one chronic. There is no agreement on treatment of chronic tears because in these cases there is a constant underlying compartment disease. The relation between root avulsion and arthritis remains unclear. The treatment may be only arthroscopic and requires a posterior portal or a transeptal approach. The root fixation may be achieved with transosseous procedures or by anchors.