2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress Paper #116

Analysis of the Risk of Neurovascular Injury of Inside-Out Sutures of the Posterior Horn of the Lateral Meniscus

Alejandro Espejo-Reina, MD, MSc, Málaga, Málaga SPAIN
Maximiano Lombardo-De La Torre, MD, Málaga, Málaga SPAIN
Antonio Fernández De Rota-Conde, MD, Málaga, Málaga SPAIN
José M. Serrano-Fernández, MD, Málaga, Málaga SPAIN
Maria Belen Martín-Castilla, MD, Málaga, Málaga SPAIN
Francisco Amores-Ramírez, MD, Málaga, Málaga SPAIN
Alejandro Espejo-Baena, MD, Málaga, Málaga SPAIN

Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria. Hospital Vithas Parque San Antonio, Málaga, Málaga, SPAIN

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary: Inside-out suture of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus represents a high risk of injury of common peroneal nerve and and popliteal neuromuscular bundle.

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Abstract:

Aim

To quantify the risk of injury of the popliteal neurovascular bundle (PNVB) and common peroneal nerve (CPN) when performing an inside-out suture for posterior horn repair of the lateral menicus.

MATERIAL & METHODS
Ten healthy individuals underwent an MRI with the knee in full extension and another one with the knee flexed with 15º of forced varus. Three virtual needles where drawn on each case, converging on the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, in the spot where the virtual suture would be performed: ‘I’ needle (tangent to the medial side of patellar tendon), ‘M’ needle (perpendicular to the middle third of patellar tendon) and ‘E’ needle (tangent to the lateral side of patellar tendon. Distances to the PNVB and to the CPN were measured. Distances from PNVB to each needle were named EP, IP and MP for knees relaxed in full extension and VEP, VIP and VMP for knees flexed 15º with forced varus. Distances from CPN to each needle were named EN, IN and MN for knees relaxed in full extension and VEN, VIN and VMN for knees flexed 15º with forced varus

Results

Mean distances from PNVB to each virtual needle, measured in cm, were: EN = 1.7, MN = 1.48, IN = 1.35, VEN = 1.56, VMN = 1.37, VIN = 1.25. Mean distances from CPN to each virtual needle were: IP = 1.59, MP = 1.95, EP = 2.24, VIP = 1.31, VMP = 1.65, VEP = 1.99.

Conclusion

The short distance between meniscal inside-out suture of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus and PNVB and CPN represents a high risk of injury of this structures.