Editorial Commentary: Meniscal Extrusion

Abstract

With the improved recognition of meniscal root tears over the past decade, it has become clear that root repairs are necessary in most patients indicated for a repair to prevent the further progression of osteoarthritis. Root repairs are cost beneficial to and prevent the early need for a total knee arthroplasty. As further postoperative follow-up occurs for root repairs, we have found that most patients have significantly improved patient-reported outcomes, while it is still clear that further clinical outcome study as well as further refinement of surgical technique is necessary. The next thing that we have to investigate is how to prevent recurrent meniscal extrusion after a root repair. Nonanatomic repair significantly alters tibiofemoral biomechanics and results in notably increased meniscal extrusion. In contrast, biomechanical studies show anatomic repair of the meniscus attachment within 1 cm of the meniscus attachment site restores joint loading close to normal.