Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica

“Horizontal butterfly” technique in repair of radial meniscus tears: A biomechanical study

AOTT 2018; 52: 392-396
DOI: 10.1016/j.aott.2018.07.002
Read: 1573 Downloads: 616 Published: 06 February 2020
Abstract

Introduction
Radial meniscus tears are seen in young patients, especially with anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. Repair of complete radial meniscus tear is necessary for the meniscus functions. The most important factor for success of the meniscus repair is primary stability, but it is still unknown which technique is ideal repair technique.
Aim
We developed a new suture technique named Horizontal Butterfly (HB). In this novel technique the contact between meniscal tissue and suture is more than Horizontal Loop (HL) that routinely used today. So, we think that this technique will provide better fixation than HL. We aimed to compare 2 repair techniques (HB vs. HL) using human lateral menisci biomechanically with cyclic loading and load to failure tests.
Material-method
We used 22 intact lateral meniscus obtained from patients that operated (total knee replacement) for varus gonarthrosis in our clinic. All menisci were cut radially. In the first group (n:11) menisci were repaired with standard horizontal loop technique, and in the second group (n:11) horizontal butterfly technique were used for repair. All specimens were tested with load to failure test after cyclic loading test (500 cycle X 5–30 N).
Results
Both groups have similar failure load (71,4 ± 17,52 N vs. 77,9 ± 28,49 N; p:0,559) and stiffness (24,46 ± 19,19 N vs. 24,48 ± 15,87 N; p:0,818). HB group has less peak displacement (6,26 ± 1,24 mm vs. 8,4 ± 1,92 mm; p:0,010).
Conclusion
This novel repair technique decreases the amount of displacement according to standard technique while as strong as standard technique routinely used. In this way; we believe that it will increase the rate of healing in clinical use.
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ISSN 1017-995X EISSN 2589-1294