Simple Medial Meniscus Posterior Horn Root Repair Using an All-Inside Meniscal Repair Device Combined with High Tibial Osteotomy to Maintain Joint-Space Width in a Patient with a Repairable Tear

PURPOSE: To compare the radiological and clinical outcomes using simple medial meniscus posterior horn (MMPH) root repair using an all-inside meniscal repair device combined with high tibial osteotomy (HTO) and HTO alone. METHODS: Between November 2013 and December 2016, patients treated for MMPH root tear along with HTO were enrolled. Based on the tear gap, the participants were divided into repairable ( 2 mm) categories. The participants in each group were divided into those amenable to simple MMPH root repair using an all-inside meniscal repair device and those that required no procedure for meniscus. Radiological parameters including mechanical femorotibial alignment (MA), posterior tibial slope (PTS) and medial joint-space width (JSW) were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 2 years. For clinical evaluation, the WOMAC score was determined at the 2-year visit postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 81 knees including 48 repairable (group R) and 33 unrepairable (group I) knees were enrolled. A total of 43 knees underwent simple MMPH root repair using an all-inside meniscal repair device (subgroup r), whereas the other 38 knees did not (subgroup n). The MA, PTS, and their postoperative changes as well as the WOMAC scores showed no differences. However, the JSW in group Rr increased from 3.1 to 3.6 mm, but decreased from 3.7 to 3.4 in group Rn, which was a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: Simple MMPH root repair using an all-inside meniscal repair device combined with HTO was more effective for the maintenance of JSW compared with HTO without a meniscal procedure in patients with repairable MMPH root tear and varus alignment. However, other options are needed for unrepairable MMPH root tear.