POSTER ABSTRACTS - ISAKOS

structure, but did not perform surgery on the
discoid meniscus.
The postoperative healing was asymptomatic.
Within days the activity level was elevated
compared to the pre-operative status. Physical
examination showed free range of motion without
clicking, catching or other symptoms affiliated to
the discoid meniscus.
The symptomatic cordlike structure we
demonstrated here, does not refer to the MFL or
one of the widely known intraarticular ligaments.
We therefore conclude to have introduced a new,
not yet described intraarticular cordlike structure
of the childish knee. It might be associated to
discoid menisci and is therefore an important
differential diagnosis. Successful treatment
contains cutting of the cordlike structure. The
whole meniscus remains untreated and
osteoarthritis following loss of meniscal tissue
can be prevented.
E-poster w/ Standard #757
Vascular Risk Associated with Meniscal Repair
using RapidLoc versus FasT-Fix: Comparison of
Two All-Inside Meniscal Devices
Steven B Cohen, Charlottesville, VA, USA,
Presenter
Mark David Miller, Charlottesville, VA USA
University of Virginia Health Center,
Charlottesville, VA, USA
Introduction: Previous reports have documented
the complications associated with use of allinside
meniscal repair devices. Several studies
assessed the risk to the neurovascular structures
during meniscal repair using an all-inside repair
and highlighted some potential concerns with the
use of these devices. The current study evaluated
the risk to the popliteal artery related to the use of
two commonly used all-inside meniscal repair
devices, the Mitek RapidLoc (12.5 ), and the Smith
and Nephew FasT-Fix (curved).
Methods: Eight fresh-frozen cadaver legs were
used in this study (average age=72 years, range:
63-76). The lumen of the femoral artery was
identified and injected with barium. AP and
lateral radiographs were obtained to ensure
visualization of the popliteal artery and its
anatomic location. One cadaver artery was unable
to be cannulated, thus seven cadavers were used
for the study. The needle applicator length on the
FasT-Fix is 25 mm (17 mm with the penetration
limiter) and 13 mm on the RapidLoc. Both
devices were inserted into the posterior horn of
the medial meniscus up to the hub of the needle
under direct arthroscopic visualization. After
needle insertion, a second set of radiographs was
obtained. The distance between the needle and
the artery was measured on each radiograph. The
width of the tibial plateau was measured, and the
shortest distance to the artery was calculated as a
percentage of that distance. Distances for each
device were compared for both views using
student’s t-test.
Results: Measurements taken from the
radiographs obtained revealed the average
distance from the needle to the popliteal artery to
be 0.5 mm (0.5+0.8 mm, range: 0-2 mm) on the
lateral radiograph and 6.0 mm (6.0+6.2 mm,
range: 0-19 mm) on the AP radiograph using the
FasT-Fix system. None of the RapidLoc needles
were within 20 mm of the popliteal artery on
either radiograph. When these distances for the
FasT-Fix needles were calculated as a percentage
of the tibial plateau width, the average was 0.9%
on the lateral and 7.1% on the AP radiograph. The
FasT-Fix device came within 3 mm of the artery on
both AP and lateral radiographs in 43% of the
specimens. The risk to the popliteal artery was
significantly greater using the FasT-Fix devices
when compared to the RapidLoc devices (p