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Preoperative Patient Care
Operative Techniques
E

Preoperative Plan

P

1

Perform a thorough history and physical exam

  • history of previous surgeries
  • review imaging including standing full length xrays and MRI to determine other pathology
  • discuss the goals of surgery with the patient
Pearls
  • Have a clear understanding of the pathology including alignment and cartilage defects prior to surgery

2

Execute surgical walkthrough

  • describe steps of the procedure verbally to the attending prior to the start of the case
  • describe potential complications and steps to avoid them
F

Room Preparation

1

Surgical instrumentation

  • standard knee arthroscopy instruments
  • meniscal transplant set

2

Room setup and equipment

  • standard OR table with choice of leg holder or post

3

Patient positioning

  • supine
  • contralateral leg is placed in a well leg holder
  • foot of the bed is dropped
G

Scope Insertion

1

Mark out the anatomy of the knee

  • draw out the patella, patellar tendon, and joint line
  • mark the lateral joint line incision for open meniscal repair and the anterior portals

2

Place anterolateral portal

  • use 11 blade is used to create the portal at a 45 degree angle into the joint just lateral to the patella tendon and just inferior to the distal pole of the patella
  • insert the blunt trocar at the same angle as incision

3

Place anteromedial portal

  • create anteromedial portal under direct visualization once the medial compartment is entered
  • use a spinal needle to assess direction and appropriate superior/inferior direction
  • visualize the entrance from the lateral viewing portal
  • the medial portal should be located just superior to the medial meniscus
H

Diagnostic Arthroscopy

P

1

Visualizes the different compartments and inspects the knee anatomy.

  • suprapatellar pouch
  • undersurface of the patella and trochlear groove
  • lateral and medial gutters
  • medial compartment
  • visualize the medial femoral condyle and follow it while bringing the knee into slight flexion and applying a valgus stress to the knee as you go into the medial compartment
  • the foot will be positioned on your opposite hip for control
  • medial meniscus, medial femoral condyle, and medial tibial plateau
  • once the anteromedial portal is created, a probe is used to assess the medial meniscus and cartilage
  • intercondylar notch – ACL/PCL
  • use probe to assess the ACL and PCL
  • lateral compartment
  • the surgeon can bring the leg into a figure-4 position or place the operative limb on the surgeon's hip to create a varus stress and flexion to the knee to enter the lateral compartment
  • lateral meniscus, lateral femoral condyle, and lateral tibial plateau
  • a probe is used to assess the lateral meniscus and cartilage
Pearls
  • Use systematic approach to visualize anatomy so that all pathology can be identified
  • Diagnostic arthroscopy may have been performed at a previous time diagnosing meniscal deficiency and any other pathology
I

Lateral Meniscus Graft Preparation

P

1

Thaw out the lateral meniscus tissue

  • thaw out a size matched lateral meniscus

2

Remove the soft tissues

  • remove any capsular tissue from the meniscus

3

Prepare the graft

  • fashion the graft with appropriate sized bone plug (usually 7 mm width) running from the anterior to the posterior horn insertion sites
  • mark the superior portion of the graft with a marking pen for reference in the joint
  • place a suture in the posterolateral meniscus where the posterior and middle thirds of the meniscus meet
Pearls
  • Prepare the graft using the bone bridge technique
K

Delivery and Fixation of the Lateral Meniscus

1

Deliver the meniscal allograft into the knee

  • place a passing suture using an inside out technique in the posterolateral knee mirroring the location of the suture that is placed in the meniscal allograft at the junction of the posterior and middle thirds.
  • pass the suture on the allograft though the knee from inside out using the passing suture
  • insert the meniscus and bone plug into the knee through the incision created in line with the anterior and posterior roots of the meniscus, while using the suture to help pull the meniscus into the joint
  • reduce the meniscus to the capsule which is usually done with a technique similar to reducing a bucket handle meniscus using a varus force along with flexion and extension
  • cycle the knee to allow the meniscus allograft to site in the appropriate position.

2

Fix the graft into the knee

  • place an interference screw for fixation of the bone plug
  • use multiple vertical mattress inside out sutures on the superior and inferior articular surfaces of the allograft to fix the periphery of the tissue to the capsule
  • pass the sutures out the posterolateral incision and tie over the capsule with the knee in extension
L

Wound Closure

P

1

Close the portals

  • use portal stitches

2

Close the Posterolateral incision

  • close the iliotibial band deep
  • invert interrupted sutures for subcuticular layer
  • place absorbable or nonabsorbable suture for the skin
Pearls
  • Perform a multilayer closure
Postoperative Patient Care
Private Note