Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Meniscal Preservation Surgery

Treatment for meniscal extrusion varies on a patient-by-patient basis as it is generally dependent on the underlying cause of the extrusion. Extrusion should be detected early and treated appropriately. If left untreated irreversible loss of articular cartilage can ensue leading ultimately to osteoarthritis (OA). Meniscal extrusion is not commonly seen in isolation, but rather in association with meniscal tears or OA. Statistically speaking, the most common meniscal pathology associated with extrusion is posterior horn tearing. The goal of surgery with these two diagnoses is to debride and repair the root tear but also to correct the extrusion. Ignoring the extrusion while only fixing the root tear will increases the patient's chances of developing OA in the future. Surgeries repairing larger tears such as radial tears should also look to correct the noted extrusion and restore overall function for long-term patient meniscal health. The primary operative means of treatment for meniscal extrusion relies on centralization of the extruded meniscus. Centralization refers to the restoration of the meniscus to its native position on the tibial plateau. Ozeki et al. looked to accomplish centralization of extruded medial menisci via the pull-out suture technique. Koga et al noted significant positive outcomes in a prospective study on patients undergoing lateral meniscal centralization. This technique involved placing suture anchors on the edge of the tibial plateau with suture loops passing through the meniscocapsular junction. After the anchor knots were placed, the body of the meniscus was then centralized and stabilized in its anatomic position thereby restoring proper meniscal function. Surgical techniques for the treatment of meniscal extrusion continue to advance and represent areas of future investigation.

As previously mentioned, meniscal injury and meniscal extrusion are prevalent amongst middle-aged and elderly people and represent one of the most important risk factors for the development of OA. After failing conservative treatment options, knee replacement is the surgical intervention utilized by orthopaedic surgeons to treat pain and loss of function associated with OA. According to data published by Blue Cross Blue Shield, the average cost associated with an inpatient total knee replacement (TKR) is $30,249. With estimates that 3.5 million TKR surgeries will be performed annually in the United States by 2040, healthcare costs associated with OA are likely to continue to rise without the development of new treatment methods.

Advances in the treatment of previously irreparable meniscal injuries and the identification of meniscal pathology provide potential measures to delay the onset of OA. Reduction in the prevalence of OA will lead to decreased annual spending on healthcare costs associated with OA and TKR. Reduction in the prevalence of OA will also improve productivity in the workforce as well as keeping non workers active in enjoying the many outdoor recreational activities in the state of Florida. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of patients undergoing surgical meniscal preservation to correct meniscal extrusion.