Midterm outcomes after arthroscopic surgery for hypermobile lateral meniscus in adults: Restriction of paradoxical motion.

BACKGROUND

Hypermobile lateral meniscus (HLM) is one of the causes of knee pain and a locking sensation. It is thought that disruption of the popliteomeniscle fascicles lead to hypermobility of the lateral meniscus in adults. In cases of HLM, the posterior portion of the lateral meniscus shows forward abnormal translation with knee flexion and backward translation with knee extension. We refer to this phenomenon as paradoxical motion. The purpose of this study was to report an arthroscopic HLM stabilization and evaluate the midterm clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Twenty consecutive HLM patients (21 knees) who underwent arthroscopic surgery were included. The mean age at the time of surgery was 37.7 (19-63) years. Mean duration from surgery to final follow-up was 37 (24-68) months. Meniscus movement according to the knee flexion and extension was observed by diagnostic arthroscopy. We performed arthroscopic inside-out vertical stacked suturing of disrupted popliteomeniscle fascicles. The number of suturing and details of meniscal movement were assessed. The Tegner activity level score and Lysholm knee scores were determined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. Clinical outcomes included locking sensation, recurrences and complications reported at the final follow-up.

RESULTS

Paradoxical motion of the lateral meniscus was observed in all patients. We performed an average of 5.0 (2-8) vertical stacked sutures of the disrupted popliteomeniscal fascicles. Physiological motion of the lateral meniscus was observed after meniscus repairs. The mean Tegner activity level scales before and after surgery were 4.6 (2-8) and 4.7 (2-8), respectively. The mean Lysholm knee scores significantly improved from 72.0 (48-85) preoperatively to 97.8 (78-100) at 2 years postoperatively. There were no complications or recurrences of locking symptoms at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of arthroscopic inside-out vertical sutures for disrupted popliteomeniscle fascicles improved the clinical outcomes for HLM patients without complications.