Arthroscopic meniscus repair: a safe approach to the posterior horns.

Seventy arthroscopic meniscus repairs were performed using a technique that places posterior horn sutures through spinal needles from safe posterior corner punctures, thus avoiding injury to the posterior neurovascular structures. Follow-up averaged 18 months, with a range from 12 to 28 months. Associated anterior cruciate ligament instability (31%) was either stabilized surgically (13%) or braced postoperatively for pivoting activity (18%). Clinical results were excellent in 98.6% of patients, with only one second tear (1.5%) occurring 2 months postoperatively. Complications (2.8%) included one transient saphenous nerve irritation and one case of pyarthrosis. No major neurovascular complications occurred.