Morphological changes observed on serial magnetic resonance imaging of repaired medial meniscal horizontal cleavage tears

Aim: To investigate the healing rate and postoperative changes on serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of horizontal cleavage tears (HCTs) repaired using outside-in vertical suture technique. Methods: Thirty patients who underwent meniscal repair for HCTs between November 2019 and October 2022 were enrolled. Surgeries were performed using outside-in vertical sutures with a spinal needle and suture hook with two shuttle relays. The sagittal meniscal width (SMW) and sagittal meniscal height (SMH) were measured using MRI preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively. Results: Compared with preoperative MRI, immediate postoperative MRI revealed decreased SMW and increased SMH, resulting in a trapezoidal shape. However, over time, the 2-year postoperative MRI showed increased width and decreased height compared with the immediate postoperative MRI, suggesting that this contributes to remodeling into a triangular shape. Conclusion: The outside-in vertical suture technique for HCTs showed good clinical outcomes and successful healing of the repaired HCTs on serial postoperative MRI.