Treatment of Root and Para-Root Injury of the Posterior Horn of the Lateral Meniscus Associated with Cruciate Ligaments Tears (Study of 40 Patients with 2 Years Follow-Up)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of repairing root and para-root radial tears of lateral meniscus during cruciate ligament reconstruction. In a retrospective study، from the 60 patients who had been treated for root or para-root injury of the lateral meniscus from 2007 to 2011 in 3 centers in Tehran-Iran. Only 40 patients were studied with an average followe-up of 32. 4 months (24-48 months). The patients were evaluated by International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC)، Lysholm and Tegner scoring systems subjectively، and by objective Lachman and McMurray tests. 34 patients were operated for ACL reconstruction and 6 for ACL and PCL reconstruction; and lateral meniscus tears were repaired simultaneously. On the final follow-up، all the patients had firm end-points tested by Lachman. None reported popping or clicking. The mean IKDC score was 75. 25 (range: 54-92)، the mean Lysholm score was 94. 4 (excellent) in 22 patients; and the mean Tegner score was 7. 15. From the 16 patients who were professional soccer players، 14 were still playing competitively at the time of follow-up. The midterm results of lateral meniscus repair - at root or para-root level - in association with ACL or / and PCL reconstruction، are acceptable.