Biological Augmentation of Meniscal Repair with Marrow Venting: A Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Meniscal tears are common knee injuries that can cause pain, stiffness, and difficulty in daily activities. When conservative treatments do not work, surgical repair using meniscal sutures is preferred over removal of the meniscus. This trial evaluates whether adding a marrow venting procedure, which involves creating small micro-fractures in the bone near the meniscus, can improve healing outcomes compared to meniscal suture alone. The study aims to address limitations of previous trials by including tears in the red-white zone of the meniscus and testing this biological augmentation technique in a larger patient group. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving meniscal suture combined with the marrow venting procedure, and the other receiving meniscal suture alone without marrow venting. The meniscal repair involves trimming the damaged tissue and stitching the meniscus using a specialized system. For those in the marrow venting group, micro-fractures will be made at the bone in the intercondylar notch to allow marrow elements to enter the joint and potentially enhance healing. Throughout the study, participants will be followed and assessed at multiple time points up to five years after surgery. Evaluations include subjective and objective knee function scores, pain and function rating scales, healing rates, and monitoring for treatment-related adverse events. Researchers will also observe the progression of knee osteoarthritis through imaging. The study focuses on patient recovery and knee function improvement over time with detailed assessments before surgery and at intervals postoperatively.

This is a Study to Verify if Marrow Venting Procedure Can Improve Meniscal Suture Healing