To systematically review meniscal radial tear repair procedures and compare the techniques, outcomes, and complications.
Studies were identified through a systematic review of the literature using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed (1980-2014), Medline (1980-2014), and Embase. Inclusion criteria included a minimum follow-up of 24 months, English language, and publications from 1980 or later. Exclusion criteria were surgical techniques not reporting follow-up, biomechanical studies, cadaver/anatomic studies, and non-radial tear meniscal repair procedures. Meniscal radial repair, meniscal radial tear, meniscal radial tear repair, radial repair and radial tear were used as search terms.
A total of 6 studies (55 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The mean duration of follow-up ranged from 24 to 71 months. Of the 6 studies, 5 reported radial tears to the lateral meniscus and 1 study reported cases of both medial and lateral meniscal radial tears. Two studies reported different inside-out repair techniques, 2 studies reported the use of an all-inside anchor-based repair system, 1 study reported an all-inside repair technique with absorbable sutures, and 1 study reported an inside-out repair with fibrin clots. Average postoperative Lysholm scores were reported in all 6 studies and ranged from 86.9 to 95.6. Average postoperative Tegner activity scores were reported in 4 studies and ranged from 1 to 6.7. The majority of studies concluded that their techniques produced satisfactory healing of the radial tear, without serious subsequent complications.
Level IV, systematic review of level IV studies.
Radial repair techniques differed among studies; however, postoperative subjective outcomes revealed patient improvement with repairing radial tears. With the increasing concern of long-term osteoarthritis after meniscectomy, meniscal preservation with repair of radial tears results in improved short-term clinical outcomes; however, long-term outcomes remain unknown.