Meniscal Repair
The meniscus is a crucial shock-absorber in the knee joint. Certain rare types of (bucket-handle) meniscal tears can be repaired with sutures, rather than cut out.
This video demonstrates the arthroscopic repair of a bucket-handle meniscus tear with an all-inside repair device that places small anchors into the capsule. To improve the chance of success, a microfracture is performed at the end to induce bleeding – the meniscus has a poor blood supply, and some blood in the joint is thought to improve healing.
Meniscal Transplantation
If a very large meniscal tear in a young patient cannot be repaired and has to be removed, meniscal transplantation can replace the missing meniscus and improve pain and function, while potentially slowing down the development of arthritis.
