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Meniscal Repair: Intra- and Postoperative Complications

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Surgery of the Meniscus

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Abstract

All meniscal repairs have become increasingly popular and have tended to convert meniscal suturing into a standard procedure. The most classical complications are neurovascular damage in relation to the minimal invasive approach for arthroscopic posteromedial and posterolateral portals as well as insertions of implants without direct visualization of the neurovascular structures. With the evolution of meniscal devices and implants, new complications in meniscal repair surgery have emerged, especially with first-generation implants (arrow, dart, staples, and screws). Repair techniques have also been developed. Over the years, many reports on specific complications relating to all-interior devices have been published. Chondral injuries, implant loosening, device migration, capsular or neural irritations, foreign body reactions, and cystic granulomas have all been described in the literature following the use of meniscal fixation devices. Since hybrid meniscal devices allow for easier meniscal sutures with lower risk of neurovascular injury, more appropriate suture placement, and the easy handling of the instruments, information delivered to patients regarding potential complications should take into account the rarefaction of complications reported in the literature.

In many ways, all-inside devices are an interesting alternative to conventional suture techniques. However, precise knowledge of their potential complications and the pitfalls during surgery is crucial in doing a risk evaluation in order to make the correct choice of technique, suited to the individual patient, and to successfully achieve meniscal reconstruction. Although many clinical investigations report excellent results with a healing rate of around 80 %, potential complication of such a procedure must still remain a focus to maximize our surgical performances.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Knee Surgery, Clinique du Sport, Bordeaux Mérignac, France

    Nicolas Graveleau MD

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Centre Hospitalier-Clinique d’Eich, 78, Rue d’Eich, Luxembourg, 1460, Luxembourg

    Romain Seil MD, PhD

  3. Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 78 Rue d’Eich, Luxembourg, L-1460, Luxembourg

    Romain Seil MD, PhD

  4. Département de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, CHU de Caen, U1075 COMETE UCBN/INSERM, UFR de Médecine, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, Caen Cedex, 14033, France

    Christophe Hulet MD

  5. Département de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique, CHU de Caen (Pr C. Hulet), U1075 COMETE UCBN/INSERM, UFR de Médecine, Avenue de la cote de nacre, Caen Cedex 5, 14033, France

    Goulven Rochcongar MD

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  1. Nicolas Graveleau MD
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  2. Romain Seil MD, PhD
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  3. Christophe Hulet MD
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  4. Goulven Rochcongar MD
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Correspondence to Nicolas Graveleau MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Unit INSERM, Normandy University, Caen university Hos, Caen, France

    Christophe Hulet

  2. Orthopedic Department, Centro Hospitalar Póvoa de Varzim –Vila, Póvoa de Varzim, Porto, Portugal

    Helder Pereira

  3. University of Milan, Dpt. of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Milano, Italy

    Giuseppe Peretti

  4. Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Monza, Italy

    Matteo Denti

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Graveleau, N., Seil, R., Hulet, C., Rochcongar, G. (2016). Meniscal Repair: Intra- and Postoperative Complications. In: Hulet, C., Pereira, H., Peretti, G., Denti, M. (eds) Surgery of the Meniscus. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49188-1_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49188-1_35

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