[Effectiveness of double-needle suture for mixed meniscus tear repair under arthroscope].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of double-needle suture for mixed meniscus tear repair under arthroscope.

METHODS

Between April 2006 and January 2011, 22 patients with mixed meniscus tear were treated with double-needle suture under arthroscope. There were 14 males and 8 females, aged 18-41 years (mean, 31.3 years). All injuries were caused by sports. The time between injury and admission ranged from 2 days to 4 years (median, 11 months). International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 42.5 +/- 15.2, Lysholm score was 45.5 +/- 13.5, and Tegner score was 2.9 +/- 1.6. Seventeen cases complicated with anterior cruciate ligament injury.

RESULTS

Healing of incision by first intention was achieved in all patients. No injury of nerve and blood occurred. The patients were followed up 12-48 months with an average of 27.6 months. According to Barrett et al. standard, 19 cases (86%) got clinical healing. The IKDC, Lysholm, and Tegner scores were improved to 77.1 +/- 8.9, 79.8 +/- 9.9, and 6.8 +/- 1.6 respectively at last follow-up, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative scores (P < 0.05). Co

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopic meniscus repair using double-needle suture can provide good effectiveness because it has high firmness.