Current Trends Among US Surgeons in the Identification,Treatment,and Time of Repair for Medial Meniscal Ramp Lesions at the Time of ACL Surgery

Abstract

Background:

Given the potential hidden nature of medial meniscal ramp lesions and the controversy regarding treatment, it is important to understand the current trends regarding the identification and treatment strategies of meniscal ramp lesions by the leading surgeons and educators in the field of sports medicine.

Purpose:

To better understand the current trends in orthopaedic surgery regarding arthroscopic identification and treatment of medial meniscal ramp lesions at the time of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

An electronic questionnaire was sent in a blinded fashion to 91 directors of orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship training programs in the United States. Participants’ email addresses were obtained through the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine directory of current fellowship program directors. Inclusion criteria were only those surgeons who currently performed ACL reconstruction surgery. Exclusion criteria were those surgeons who did not perform ACL reconstruction or who chose to opt out of the survey.

Results:

Overall, 19 surgeons opted out of the survey; 36 responded from the remaining 72 surveys (50%). The majority (n = 31, 86%) reported routinely checking for a medial meniscal ramp lesion via inspection of the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction during an ACL reconstruction. The most common repair technique cited was all-inside (n = 24, 66.7%), followed by inside-out (n = 8, 22.2%). Three (8%) surgeons indicated that they did not repair meniscal ramp lesions. Regarding surgical treatment (repair vs no treatment), the majority reported using the extent of the tear (89%; partial vs full thickness) and the stability of the tear upon probing (81%) as the main criteria for intraoperative decision making. Nineteen (52.8%) surgeons required a mean time of <15 minutes for meniscal ramp repair; 16 surgeons (44.4%), 15 to 30 minutes; and 1 surgeon (2.8%), 30 to 45 minutes.

Conclusion:

This study provides insight regarding meniscal ramp tear identification, treatment, and repair strategies from the fellowship directors of sports medicine orthopaedic surgery in the United States. Such information may be useful for current orthopaedic surgeons to advance their practice according to the current trends surrounding ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal ramp repair.

Keywords

ramp lesion medial meniscus anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction survey

Meniscal ramp lesions are becoming increasingly recognized. Ramp lesions have been described as tears at the posterior meniscocapsular junction and/or tears of the posterior meniscotibial ligament, and they have a reported incidence of 16% to 40% of all anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.^3,9,13,14 Based on their location, these lesions may be arthroscopically “hidden” during normal anterior viewing; thus, an accessory posteromedial portal is necessary to confirm or deny their presence. In addition, there is controversy regarding identification strategies and surgical treatment options (repair versus no treatment). Some authors have advocated for the surgical repair of all meniscal ramp lesions at the time of ACL reconstruction, owing to an increased risk of persistent instability and potential ACL reconstruction graft failure when not treated.^4,5,11,15 However, given the vascularization of the capsule and the red-red zone of the meniscus,^1,2 some clinical studies have cited the potential for these tears to heal without surgical treatment.^6,10 Therefore, the purpose of this research survey was to better understand the current trends in orthopaedic surgery regarding arthroscopic identification and treatment of medial meniscal ramp lesions at the time of ACL surgery.

Methods

Questionnaire Development

A questionnaire was electronically sent in a blinded fashion to 91 directors of orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship training programs in the United States (Table 1). Participants’ email addresses were obtained through the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine directory of current fellowship program directors. A cover letter that accompanied the questionnaire stated the purpose of the questionnaire and ensured anonymity. All survey participants had the opportunity to decline the questionnaire. Inclusion criteria included only those surgeons who currently performed ACL reconstruction surgery. Exclusion criteria were those surgeons who did not perform ACL reconstruction or who chose to opt out of the survey. The survey was sent out and responses were collected from January 2018 to July 2018. We developed the questionnaire according to previous trends in the literature regarding meniscal ramp lesions and by expert opinion and knowledge from years of clinical practice. This study was deemed exempt from approval by an institutional review board.

TABLE 1

Survey Questionnaire ^a

Q1: Do you identify the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction (ie, location of “ramp” lesions) routinely at the time of ACL surgery? If yes, please specify how you locate these lesions during arthroscopy:

No (14%)

Anterior view (11%)

Modified Gillquist view, by placing the scope through the intercondylar notch medial to the PCL (67%)

Accessory posteromedial portal (8%)

Q2: What repair technique do you use for meniscal ramp lesions at the time of ACL surgery?

Inside-out technique (22%)

All-inside technique (67%)

I do not repair meniscal ramp lesions (8%)

Other (please specify) (3%)

Q3: What clinical information do you use to diagnose a medial meniscal ramp lesion during preoperative planning? Please select all that apply:

MRI: High-intensity signal between posterior horn of medial meniscus and posteromedial capsule (89%)

MRI: Posteromedial tibial bone bruise pattern (56%)

Exam: Grade III Lachman test (22%)

Exam: Grade III pivot shift (during exam under anesthesia) (25%)

Exam: Positive/gross anterior drawer test (8%)

I do not preoperatively diagnose meniscal ramp lesions (11%)

Other (please specify) (0%)

Q4: What criteria do you use to make a decision regarding meniscal repair vs no treatment for medial meniscal ramp lesions? Please select all that apply:

Extent of tear (ie, partial vs complete) (89%)

Meniscal stability (ie, gross anterior displacement of medial meniscus upon probing) (81%)

Size of tear (>2.5 or <2.5 cm in length) (58%)

Involvement of meniscotibial ligament (25%)

Other (please specify) (0%)

Q5: Do you notice a subjective difference in the reduction of the amount of knee instability following a ramp repair (anterior tibial translation or pivot shift) before completing your ACL reconstruction (ie, Lachman reduces from a “3” to a “2”)?

Yes (33%)

No (28%)

Do not assess knee stability after meniscal repair during surgery (39%)

Q6: When did you begin to recognize meniscal ramp lesions during your career?

1 y ago (6%)

2-4 y ago (33%)

5-6 y ago (22%)

≥7 y ago (39%)

Q7: What is the average time it takes you to repair a medial meniscal ramp lesion during surgery?

<15 min (53%)

15-30 min (44%)

30-45 min (3%)

≥60 min (0%)

Q8: What is your prescribed weightbearing status following an ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal ramp repair?

Weightbearing as tolerated with crutches × 2-4 wk (64%)

Nonweightbearing × 4 wk (6%)

Nonweightbearing × 6 wk (3%)

Partial weightbearing × 2-4 wk (28%)

Other (please specify) (0%)

Q9: What is your prescribed return-to-play timeline following a primary ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal ramp repair?

5-6 mo (6%)

6-7 mo (33%)

7-8 mo (36%)

≥9 mo (25%)

Q10: How often is preoperative MRI accurate in diagnosing medial meniscal ramp tears?

Never (0%)

Rarely (22%)

Sometimes (33%)

Often (44%)

Always (0%)

^a Questions assessed the surgeon’s expertise in preoperative diagnosis, intraoperative identification, and treatment strategies of medial meniscal ramp lesions at the time of ACL surgery. Respondents’ answers are provided in the form of overall percentages in parentheses next to the corresponding answers. ACL, anterior cruciate ligament; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PCL, posterior cruciate ligament.

Statistical Analysis

Data were prospectively collected via an online survey tool (www.surveymonkey.com). Data were extracted from the online survey database and summarized. Standard descriptive statistics were performed.

Results

Overall, 19 surgeons opted out of the survey; 36 responded from the remaining 72 surveys (50%). A total of 14 (38.9%) surgeons reported that their recognition of meniscal ramp lesions began ≥7 years ago; 8 surgeons (22.2%), 5 to 6 years; 12 surgeons (33.3%), 2 to 4 years; and 2 surgeons (5.6%), 1 year ago. The majority (n = 31, 86%) indicated routinely checking for a medial meniscal ramp lesion during an ACL reconstruction via inspection of the posteromedial meniscocapsular junction. The most common inspection strategy cited for evaluation of a ramp tear was the modified Gillquist view (transnotch approach; n = 24, 67%). Three (8%) surgeons reported the use of an accessory posteromedial portal during evaluation of a ramp lesion.

Regarding diagnosis, 11% did not preoperatively diagnose ramp lesions, while 89% used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosis, with 56% identifying a posteromedial tibial bone bruise as a secondary sign of a ramp lesion. Eight (22.2%) surgeons reported that MRI was “rarely” accurate in diagnosing medial meniscal ramp lesions, as compared with 12 (33.3%) and 16 (44.4%) who indicated that MRI was “sometimes” accurate and “often” accurate, respectively. Twenty (55.5%) surgeons cited the preoperative use of physical examination findings as an indicator for potential medial meniscal ramp lesion. The most common physical examination findings reported were a grade III pivot shift (n = 9, 25%) and a grade III Lachman test (n = 8, 22.2%).

The most common meniscal ramp repair technique cited was all-inside (n = 24, 66.7%), followed by inside-out (n = 8, 22.2%). Three (8%) surgeons reported that they did not repair meniscal ramp lesions, and 1 (2.7%) surgeon cited a hybrid meniscal repair technique. Regarding surgical treatment (repair versus no treatment), the majority of surgeons reported using the extent of the tear (89%; partial versus full thickness) and the stability of tear upon probing (81%) as the main criteria for intraoperative decision making. Nine surgeons (25%) cited involvement of the meniscotibial ligament as a criterion for meniscal repair, and 21 (58.3%) surgeons indicated size of the tear (ie, >2.5 or <2.5 cm in length) as a decision-making criterion. A total of 19 (52.8%) surgeons reported requiring a mean time of <15 minutes for meniscal ramp repair, 16 surgeons (44.4%) needed 15 to 30 minutes, and 1 surgeon (2.8%) needed 30 to 45 minutes. No surgeon (0%) needed ≥60 minutes (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Survey responses of the orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship directors in the United States (N = 36) regarding identification, treatment, and time of repair for medial meniscal ramp lesions. ACL, anterior cruciate ligament.

The majority of surgeons (n = 22, 61.1%) reported routine assessment of intraoperative knee stability (ie, Lachman testing) following ramp repair: 12 surgeons (33.3%) cited a subjective difference in knee stability prior to ACL reconstruction with a ramp repair, while 10 surgeons (27.8%) did not notice a subjective difference in knee stability. The most common prescribed weightbearing status following ACL reconstruction and meniscal ramp repair was weightbearing as tolerated with the use of crutches for 2 to 4 weeks (n = 23, 64%). The most common prescribed return-to-play timeline following primary ACL reconstruction and concomitant medial meniscal ramp repair was 7 to 8 months (n = 13, 36%) (Table 2).

TABLE 2

Mean Return-to-Play Timeline Reported by Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Directors in the United States (N = 36) ^a

	5-6 mo	6-7 mo	7-8 mo	≥9 mo
“What is your prescribed return-to-play timeline following a primary ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal ramp repair?”	2 (6)	12 (33)	13 (36)	9 (25)

^a Results are reported as n (%). ACL, anterior cruciate ligament.

Discussion

This study reports the preferences and treatment strategies of the current US orthopaedic fellowship directors in the field of sports medicine. Specifically, the majority of surgeons surveyed reported that they routinely identify and repair meniscal ramp lesions at time of ACL surgery (86%), use an all-inside repair technique (67%), require <15 minutes for repair (53%), and allow their patients to return to full activities at postoperative 7 to 8 months (36%). These guidelines may be helpful for orthopaedic surgeons and may lead to established criteria for the treatment of ACL tears with concomitant medial meniscal ramp lesions.

In the current survey, the modified Gillquist view (transnotch, advancing the arthroscope medial to the posterior cruciate ligament) was the most common utilized approach to identify a potential ramp lesion. However, previous authors have advocated for the use of an accessory posteromedial portal to both visualize and repair ramp lesions.^12,14,16 In a study evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of adding a posteromedial portal for evaluation of ramp lesions, Sonnery-Cottet et al¹⁴ documented a high rate (17%) of missed meniscocapsular tears before adding a posteromedial portal. However, in the current survey, only 8% of surgeons indicated the use of an accessory posteromedial portal during evaluation of a ramp lesion. Thus, the reported necessity of this accessory portal was not common in clinical practice by the orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship directors in the United States. Consequently, an accessory posteromedial portal may not be necessary for visualization with the previously established modified Gillquist view.⁷

The most common meniscal ramp repair technique reported in this survey was all-inside (67%), followed by inside-out (22%). Previous literature has described various meniscal ramp repair techniques; however, clinical outcomes have been published only for all-inside ramp repair techniques.^8,16,17 Thaunat et al¹⁶ documented good outcomes following combined ACL reconstruction and all-inside meniscal ramp repair, with a 9% clinical failure rate. Liu et al¹⁰ evaluated outcomes comparing all-inside versus no repair (trephination only) among patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with stable meniscal ramp lesions. These authors cited no significant differences between the repair and no-repair groups and no significant differences in meniscal healing rates. These reports support the potential for stable meniscal ramp lesions to heal without surgical repair; however, only 8% of our survey respondents indicated that they do not repair meniscal ramp lesions. Thus, the current trend (92%) by US orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship directors supports medial meniscal ramp repair.

The most commonly prescribed postoperative rehabilitation protocols after ACL reconstruction and meniscal ramp repair were weightbearing as tolerated with the use of crutches for 2 to 4 weeks (64%) and allowing patients to return to full activity at postoperative 7 to 8 months (36%). Thaunat et al¹⁶ reported full weightbearing by week 3 and return to full activities by 9 months following combined ACL reconstruction and meniscal ramp repair. Thus, the cited rehabilitation programs by the orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship directors in the United States are consistent with previous literature.

This study has limitations inherent to those of a survey questionnaire. As such, the subjective reports and common trends of the survey respondents cannot be validated with evidence-based recommendations, although these practices may be adopted into future research studies for validation. In addition, there was a relatively low response rate for the orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship directors. This may have introduced bias into the results, which should thus be interpreted with caution.

Conclusion

This survey provides insight regarding meniscal ramp tear identification, treatment, and repair strategies from the fellowship directors of sports medicine orthopaedic surgery in the United States. This information may be useful for current orthopaedic surgeons to advance their practice according to the current trends surrounding ACL reconstruction and medial meniscal ramp repair.

Footnotes

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest and source of funding: L.E. receives research support from Arthrex, Biomet, Smith & Nephew, and Health Southeast Norway and royalties from Arthrex and Smith & Nephew. R.F.L. receives educational support from Arthrex; is a consultant for Arthrex, Ossur, and Smith & Nephew; receives royalties from Arthrex, Ossur, and Smith & Nephew; is a paid speaker/presenter for Arthrex and Smith & Nephew; and has received hospitality payments from Arthrex and Smith & Nephew. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Ethical approval for this study was waived by the Vail Valley Medical Center Institutional Review Board (protocol No. 2017-42).

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