Postoperative Knee Squeaking Following Arthroscopic Meniscal Repair: A Case-Based Report and Literature Review.

Abstract

Postoperative knee squeaking is a rare phenomenon in native knees, with prior reports limited to ligament reconstructions. This case-based report describes the first documented instances of transient knee squeaking following arthroscopic meniscal repair. We present two cases of male patients who developed audible squeaking within 1 month postoperatively using the Meniscal Cinch II (MCII) Implant Delivery System (Arthrex). Both cases demonstrated squeaking between 60° and 120° of knee motion without swelling or mechanical symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings did not reveal displaced sutures or loose bodies. Symptoms resolved spontaneously within 8 weeks without intervention. A literature review shows that previously reported cases of postoperative knee squeaking typically required arthroscopic suture removal due to intra-articular migration. Our findings suggest that in select cases, knee squeaking may be benign and self-limiting, supporting a conservative approach. Further studies are warranted to explore the etiology and guide management strategies for this unusual postoperative symptom.