EXPERIMENTAL STUDY COMPARING THE DURATION OF PARTIAL MENISCUS RESECTION USING ARTHROSCOPIC PUNCHERS, RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATOR AND RADIOFREQUENCY INSTRUMENT FOR MENISCUS RESECTION "MENISCUS RESECTOR"

Introduction. An experimental study comparing the duration of partial resection of 500 mm3 of meniscus by a combination of arthroscopic punchers with a radiofrequency ablator and a radiofrequency resection tool "Meniscus Resector" was conducted in isolated laboratory conditions. The aim of the study. To determine and compare the duration of partial meniscus resection using arthroscopic punchers, radiofrequency ablator and Meniscus Resector radiofrequency resection tool in isolated laboratory conditions. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 30 macropreparations of human knee menisci obtained during total knee arthroplasty, which were divided into two groups: Group 1 – 15 macroscopic specimens, partial resection of which was performed using an arthroscopic biter, and the contours of the meniscus surface after resection were treated with a radiofrequency ablator; Group 2 – 15 macroscopic specimens, partial resection of which was performed using the Meniscus Resector radiofrequency resection tool. In both groups, the same volume of meniscus was resected – 500 mm3. Visualization and timing were performed using an arthroscopic system (Smith & Nephew, USA; Loran, China). Statistical processing of the study data was performed using the licensed software IBM SPSS Statistics Base v 22. MedCalc (Healthcare Technology, USA). Results and Discussion. In group 1, the mean duration (median, interquartile range) of partial resection of a 500 mm3 fragment was 11.8 (10.2-12.9) seconds, in group 2, the mean duration of partial resection of a 500 mm3 fragment was 1.9 (1.4-2.3) seconds (p=0.000061). Thus, the use of the Meniscus Resector (group 2) contributed to an average of 6.2 times faster partial meniscus resection compared to arthroscopic punchers and radiofrequency ablator (group 1). Conclusions. The study suggests that the use of the Meniscus Resector provides a faster method of radiofrequency meniscus resection compared to arthroscopic punchers and radiofrequency ablators. Further studies and trials are needed to confirm these results and evaluate safety in different clinical settings.