Evaluation of surgical technique and clinical factors associated with favorable prognosis in posterior horn lateral meniscus repair through central transpatellar portal

José R. Monroy-Plata, Department of the Orthopedics and Traumatology service of “Hospital Español de México; Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, Universidad La Salle México; Mexico City, Mexico
Juan F.J. Valles-Figueroa, Department of the Orthopedics and Traumatology service of “Hospital Español de México; Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, Universidad La Salle México; Mexico City, Mexico
Saúl Zapata-Rivera, Department of the Orthopedics and Traumatology service of “Hospital Español de México; Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, Universidad La Salle México; Mexico City, Mexico
Melissa Olguin- Rodríguez, Department of the Orthopedics and Traumatology service of “Hospital Español de México; Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, Universidad La Salle México; Mexico City, Mexico
Ricardo L. Cruz-Ahuja, Department of the Orthopedics and Traumatology service of “Hospital Español de México; Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, Universidad La Salle México; Mexico City, Mexico
Alejandro Padilla-Isassi, Coordination of the Research Department, Hospital Español de México. Mexico City, Mexico

Objective: Evaluate factors associated with favorable functional outcomes in posterior horn lateral meniscus repair performed through a central transpatellar portal. Material and methods: This prospective observational study included patients with isolated posterior horn lateral meniscus tears treated arthroscopically via a central transpatellar portal. Functional outcomes were assessed postoperatively using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Lysholm-Tegner scales. Variables included age, gender, side, device, surgical time, and implant success. Continuous variables were summarized as mean ± standard deviation, and mean differences were analyzed using parametric tests with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Fifty-seven patients (mean age 31.9 years; 61.4% male) were followed for a mean of 8.2 months. Sequent® was used in 68.4% of cases, with a mean surgical time of 37.6 minutes. Functional outcomes were favorable, with high scores in IKDC (93.7) and Lysholm-Tegner (91.2). Age correlated positively with IKDC scores (R = 0.420; p = 0.001). Use of Sequent® was associated with statistically higher Lysholm-Tegner scores compared with FiberStitch® (91.6 ± 1.05 vs. 90.4 ± 0.96; p < 0.001), although both devices achieved high outcomes overall. Conclusions: Arthroscopic repair of posterior horn lateral meniscus tears through a central transpatellar portal provides good visualization and direct access, with excellent functional results on IKDC and Lysholm-Tegner scales. Age and type of all-inside device were associated with functional scores; however, absolute differences between implants were small. Larger comparative studies are required to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Central transpatellar portal. Lateral meniscus. All-inside. Neurovascular lesions. Arthroscopic surgery.