A Modified Outside-in Suture Technique for Repair of the Middle Segment of the Meniscus Using a Spinal Needle

joint capsule. This technique has several disadvantages. One is the horizontal suture for peripheral tears of the meniscus. Second is the double arm needle technique directed to a far posterolat-eral or posteromedial side. It may cause neurovascular injuries during procedure. Third is foreign body reaction caused by non-absorbable double arm needle suture materials2). The outside-in technique is most applicable to tears in the anterior and middle segments of the meniscus. But, this technique is horizontal suture and uses a nonabsorbable suture material3), which is different from our technique. The all-inside repair technique is indicated for unstable, vertical-longitudinal tears of the posterior horns of the meniscus. When repairing a meniscal tear, an adequate approximation of torn surfaces with firm fixation is important for yielding an optimal healing. For repair of a middle segment, posteromedial or posterolateral corner tear, a meniscal fixator or the inside-out double arm needle technique is considered effec-tive3). However, with a meniscal fixator, it is not only difficult to attain good coaptation between torn surfaces, the holding power is expected relatively weak. We introduce a modified outside-in vertical suture technique with a spinal needle that provides a saf