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Study shows improvement in degree of meniscal extrusion with use of Mason-Allen stitch
Although simple and modified Mason-Allen suture techniques showed no difference in clinical outcomes at short-term follow-up, the Mason-Allen stitch improved the degree of meniscal extrusion, according to study results.
Researchers compared the outcomes of 25 patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscus root refixations using the modified Mason-Allen stitch (M group) between June 2010 and January 2012 with those of 25 matched control patients who underwent meniscus root refixations using simple stitches (S group) between March 2004 and August 2007.
The researchers assessed the Lysholm score, IKDC Subjective Knee Form score, joint space narrowing and Kellgren-Lawrence grade. Additionally, the researchers used MRIs to assess medical meniscal extrusion, progression of cartilage degeneration and healing status of the refixed medical meniscus root.
Study results showed no between-group difference in age, sex, body mass index or preoperative patient characteristics. The researchers found significant improvement in the Lysholm, IKDC Subject Knee Form and Tegner activity scores in both groups.
Compared with the S group, the repaired root tended to heal better in the M group. However, although Kellgren-Lawrence grade and cartilage degeneration increased significantly in the S group, there was no significant progression in the M group, according to the researchers.
Postoperative medial meniscal extrusion decreased –0.6 mm in the M group and increased 1 mm in the S group on MRI, whereas postoperative clinical outcomes did not differ between the groups.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosure.