Arthroscopic repair of meniscal tears that extend into the avascular zone. A review of 198 single and complex tears

We assessed the results of 198 meniscal tears that had a major segment in the central avascular region repaired with an arthroscopically assisted inside-out technique. There were 177 patients whose mean age was 28 years. Eighty-two percent were injured during sports, and 71 % also required anterior cruciate liga-ment reconstruction. The menisci were evaluated by clinical examination (180 repairs) a mean of 42 months postoperatively, by follow-up arthroscopic evaluation (91 repairs) a mean of 18 months postoperatively, or both. At followup, 159 (80%) of the 198 tears were asymptomatic for tibiofemoral joint symptoms, and 39 (20%) required repeat arthroscopic surgery for these symptoms. Of the 91 repairs evaluated arthroscopi