Meniscal repair using a flap of synovium. An experimental study in the dog.

The healing process of longitudinal lesions in the avascular region of the meniscus was investigated in 42 menisci from 21 dogs. A longitudinal incision was made in the avascular portion of the medial menisci of 21 dogs. In one knee, a flap of synovium was sutured into the wound, and in the other, the wound was sutured as a control. Animals were killed after 1 to 12 weeks, and the menisci were removed and examined by gross inspection, light microscopy, and microangiography. In the control knees, no healing had occurred. In 19 of 21 knees in which a synovial pedicle was used, the suture site did not open at any of the postoperative weeks. The longitudinal lesion was repaired with fibrovascular tissue at 6 weeks, and the vessels over the femoral surface of the menisci and an inner portion of the menisci had reached the suture site. The healing of meniscal lesion occurred due to the use of the vascularized synovial pedicle flap and the neovascularization from the parameniscal area.