ISAKOS: 2019 Congress in Cancun, Mexico
ISAKOS

2019 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1033

 

Capsulodesis versus Bone Trough Technique in Lateral Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: Graft Extrusion and Functional Results

Àngel Masferrer-Pino, MD PhD, Barcelona SPAIN
Joan Carles Monllau, MD, PhD, Prof., Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona SPAIN
Maximiliano Ibañez, MD, Barcelona SPAIN
Juan Ignacio Erquicia, MD, Sant Pere De Ribes SPAIN
Xavier Pelfort, PhD, Igualada, Barcelona SPAIN
Pablo E. Gelber, MD, PhD, Barcelona SPAIN

Hospital Universitari Dexeus - ICATME, Barcelona, SPAIN

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary

Lateral capsulodesis technique. Can we limit graft extrusion? We conclude the capsulodesis technique have effectively presented better results relative to the degree of meniscal extrusion compared to the bone-bridge fixation technique. Additionally, the functional results were similar.

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the radiographic results (in terms of graft extrusion) and the functional results of lateral meniscus allograft transplantations (MAT) performed with a bony fixation technique or with a soft tissue fixation technique after capsulodesis.

Methods

A prospective series of 29 consecutive lateral MAT was analyzed. The inclusion criterion for MAT was lateral joint line pain due to a previous meniscectomy. Malalignment, patients who had an Ahlback grade greater than II and patients with body mass index over 30, were considered as exclusion criterion to prevent confounding results. Fifteen of the grafts were fixed with a bony fixation technique (group A). The remaining 14 cases (group B) were fixed with sutures through bone tunnels after lateral capsular fixation (capsulodesis). All patients were studied with magnetic resonance imaging to determine the degree of meniscal extrusion at an average of 18 months of surgery (range, 12-48 months). Meniscal extrusion was measured on coronal MRI’s. To standardize the results, the percentage of meniscus extruded for each group was also calculated and compared. The functional results were analysed by means of standard knee scores (Lysholm, Tegner and VAS).

Results

If we consider the first 4 cases of group B as the learning curve of the new technique, we observe that Group A had 8 cases (53.3%) of major extrusion while Group B had 1 case (7,1%) (p=0.02). When comparing the degree of meniscal extrusion with the type of fixation employed and even lower percentage of extruded menisci was found in group B (p=0.01). The final follow-up Lysholm score in group A was 94.33 +/- 5.96 (p<0.001) and was 91.43 +/- 6.19 (p<0.001) in group B. The median follow-up Tegner score significantly improved from 4 (range 2-5) to 7 (range 6-9) in Group A (p<0.001) and from 4 (range 3-5) to 7 (range 6-8) in Group B (p<0.001). The average VAS score dropped down 5.87 and 7.29 points in Groups A and B, respectively (p<0.001). The KOOS score improved from 51.98 ± 2.84 to 90.88 ± 7.53 in Group A (p<0.001) and from 50.44 ± 2.32 to 92.01 ± 6.71 in Group B (p<0.001). Patient satisfaction with regard to the procedure stood at a mean of 3.6 ± 0.2 points out of a maximum of 4 in Group A and 3.8 ± 0.4 in Group B. There were no complications in this series.

Conclusions

The capsulodesis technique in lateral MAT proved not to be statistically different at decreasing the degree of meniscal extrusion with respect to the bone-bridge fixation. If the first four cases using the new capsulodesis technique had not included in the results, the capsulodesis technique would have effectively presented better results relative to the degree of meniscal extrusion compared to the bone-bridge fixation technique. Additionally, the functional results were similar.