Meniscus root tears: what is the hype?

Abstract: Meniscus root tears are increasingly being studied due to their importance in meniscus function. Meniscus root tears can increase the joint contact pressure significantly, similar to a total meniscectomy. This may cause rapid progression of joint degeneration and produce inferior clinical outcome. Historically, they were treated with partial meniscectomy, which did not change the natural history. New repair techniques such as transtibial pull-out repair and suture anchor repair have improved the clinical outcome. This review article summarises the anatomy of the meniscus, the pathology of meniscus root tears and different repair techniques with their clinical outcomes.