Medial collateral ligament partial release in knee arthroscopy: different techniques and functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

The current study was aimed at reviewing the literature systematically to educe enhanced understanding of various techniques, sequels, as well as complications after percutaneous MCL lengthening through the procedure of arthroscopy of the knee; moreover, we utilize this clinical data that will help surgeons to encompass this technical gesticulation into their day-to-day surgical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The inclusion criteria were framed as per the internationally standardized PICOS framework, as recommended by PRISMA guidelines. The study population included adults who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for sMCL lengthening.

RESULTS

After evaluation of 69 papers, only 9 studies were ascertained for analysis after these papers fulfilled both inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patient's age varied from 13 to 60 years at the time of commencement of surgery. There was no record of any perioperative complications in relation to iatrogenic chondral damage, fracture, and there was no report of any additional meniscal injury. The requirement of postoperative bracing was reported in 2 studies, and that was required for a time period of about 4 weeks after lengthening, while various other authors reported no use of postoperative bracing. Furthermore, in relation to postoperative pain, mild pain at the medial needle tract site was experienced by patients in two that lasted up to 15 days. None of the studies reported any case of saphenous vein or saphenous nerve injury. The duration of the final follow-up after surgery varied from 3 weeks to 24 months. No incidence of subjective instability was accounted for.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, the present study concludes that percutaneous lengthening is effective with well-documented benefits with minimum allied risks and can be recommended for surgeons' who perform arthroscopy of the posteromedial compartment of the knee in the presence of a tight medial compartment. Furthermore, data reveal that healing is not impaired, or the risk of postoperative complications does not upsurge without the use of bracing.