Medial meniscus root tear: Don’t just leave it or remove it, rather repair it, a key to prevent osteoarthritis

Abstract

Background: Medial meniscus root tears disrupt meniscal hoop stresses, leading to altered joint biomechanics and accelerated degenerative changes. Root repair has been proposed as a joint-preserving alternative. Objective: To assess clinical and functional outcomes of medial meniscus posterior horn root repair through suture pull out technique. Materials and Methods: This Retrospective study was conducted at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, for operated patients from October 2022 to September 2024. Thirty-five patients with symptomatic medial meniscus root tears underwent arthroscopic suture pull out repair. Demographic data, comorbidities, and intraoperative findings were documented. Functional outcomes were assessed pre- and post-operatively using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and Lysholm Knee Score. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: The mean age was 46.1 years, with female predominance (85.7%). Pre-operative mean VAS (7.9) significantly improved to 1.2 at final follow-up (p< 0.001). Mean Lysholm score increased from 55.3 to 91.4 (p< 0.001). Grade II-III chondral changes were common intraoperative findings. No major complications were observed. Conclusion: Arthroscopic medial meniscus root repair yields significant pain relief and functional recovery, particularly in middle-aged women. This technique should be considered the treatment of choice in appropriately selected patients.