All-inside meniscal repair using a new flexible, tensionable device.
BACKGROUND: A new generation of flexible all-inside meniscal repair devices is available, but clinical studies with these devices are lacking. HYPOTHESIS: The RapidLoc has an intermediate-term meniscal healing rate that is equivalent to literature reports of inside-out suture technique in patients undergoing concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed for 75 meniscal tears in 66 consecutive patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction who underwent meniscal repair with the RapidLoc. Patients with at least 2 years' follow-up were evaluated for symptoms suggestive of a meniscal tear and were assessed with the International Knee Documentation Committee form and the Knee Disorders Subjective History visual analog scale. Subjects were asked to return for a clinical examination to include evaluation for an effusion and joint line tenderness as well as McMurray test and KT-1000 arthrometry readings. Patients with symptoms consistent with meniscal repair failure underwent magnetic resonance arthrography and repeat arthroscopy. RESULTS: Twenty patients with 21 meniscal tears were excluded, resulting in 54 meniscal tears in 46 patients. At a mean follow-up of 34.8 months, the clinical success rate for meniscal repair was 90.7% (49/54), with 5 failures requiring meniscectomy. Univariate analysis revealed predictive variables for failure: bucket-handle configuration, multiplanar tears, tear length greater than 2 cm, and chronicity longer than 3 months. Non-predictive variables included compartment, zone, ligament graft choice, gender, age, follow-up, and visual analog scale score. Analysis of healed patients revealed a negative correlation between chronicity of tear and International Knee Documentation Committee score. CONCLUSIONS: The RapidLoc has an acceptable intermediate-term clinical healing rate in patients undergoing concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Predictive variables for failure should be considered during operative decision making.