An All-Inside Repair for Full Radial Posterior Lateral Meniscus Tears

There is controversy about the treatment for unstable full radial posterior lateral meniscus tears, particularly that involving the posterior root. Some surgeons have advocated repairing these types of meniscus tears using various techniques, but their methods are somewhat technical. We developed the technique for an all-inside repair for full radial posterior lateral meniscus tears using the Meniscal Viper (Arthrex, Naples, FL). A doubled thread is passed through 1 edge of the radial tear by the Meniscal Viper and is kept in place without tying the knot. The Meniscal Viper is used again to set a new thread, repeating the same procedure to another edge of the tear. At this step, 2 doubled threads are passed through each stump of the tear, and both a loop end and 2 free ends of each thread are located outside of the joint. Then, 2 doubled threads pass the third thread into its own loop, pulling it out. Finally, the third thread becomes the mattress suture over the radial tear site and is fastened by sliding knot techniques. This procedure makes it easy to strictly, smoothly, and less invasively shorten the gap by drawing each stump of the meniscus in the direction of the circumference.