Robert E. Hunter, MD

Meniscus repair is being done more frequently and applied to tear patterns that just a few years ago were thought to be irreparable. However, instrumentation may be expensive and repair techniques require advanced arthroscopic skills. In some cases of mid-third and anterior-third tears, repair can be done with little added instrumentation and by anyone who can do basic knee arthroscopy. I have successfully used this technique to treat mid-third and anterior-third meniscus tears for about 15 years. The procedure is easy to perform and is inexpensive because it uses equipment commonly found in most ORs. The technique allows the surgeon to do many of the more complicated steps outside the knee rather than requiring more technically difficult maneuvers inside the joint.