Modified Outside-In Plus Suture Technique for Repair of the Anterior and Middle Segments of the Meniscus: Technical Note

Abstract

Traditionally, an outside-in suture technique is appropriate to repair longitudinal tears of the anterior and middle segments of the meniscus. However, it has a fundamental weakness of not creating a vertical mattress–type suture. To overcome this weakness, the modified outside-in technique was developed using a suture hook to create a vertical mattress–type suture in the inner fragment. However, it still has the disadvantage of requiring an open skin incision to prevent neurovascular damage during knot tying. Thus, we developed the modified outside-in plus technique to make a vertical mattress suture without an open skin incision in the knee joint. With this technique, the use of both vertical and horizontal mattress sutures is possible. Although this technique is similar to the modified outside-in technique, a suture knot is made inside the knee joint. Therefore, it compensates for the disadvantage of the outside-in technique. The modified outside-in plus technique is able to achieve good reduction and sufficient stability through a vertical mattress suture technique without additional skin incisions.