Associated Morbidity After the Percutaneous Release of the Medial Collateral Ligament for Knee Arthroscopy.

PURPOSE: To summarize available data on the morbidity associated with percutaneous release of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee during arthroscopy via a "pie-crusting" technique.

METHODS

A search of the literature was performed using the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases to identify studies examining the morbidity of percutaneous MCL release during arthroscopy. Only English-language articles were included; technical articles and studies not focused on the use of this technique were omitted. Two independent reviewers performed the literature search, data extraction, and quality assessment. The outcomes analyzed included resultant knee instability, functional outcome scores, visual analog scale pain scores, and saphenous nerve or greater saphenous vein injury.

RESULTS

Six studies met the eligibility criteria. The studies included a total of 234 knees undergoing MCL release, with a mean patient age of 41.1 years. This MCL release typically generated grade I MCL laxity, which usually diminished or resolved over time and did not require brace application. The functional outcome scores of patients undergoing MCL release did not differ from those of patients undergoing the same procedure without MCL release. Postoperative pain was not significantly different between patients who underwent MCL release and those who did not. There was a 0% incidence of injury to the saphenous nerve or greater saphenous vein with MCL release in the included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous MCL release during knee arthroscopy is a method of increasing the medial tibiofemoral joint space without causing any significant short- or long-term complications including residual valgus instability, pain, loss of function, or damage to surrounding structures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.