Purpose: The goal of this study was the evaluation of arthroscopic meniscal repair results using three different repair devices (RapidLoc of Depuy Mitec, T–Fix of Acufex Microsurgical, and FasT-Fix of Smith& Nephew).

Methods: From 2001 to 2006, 265 patients with 280 meniscal tears underwent to meniscal repair using three different all-inside meniscal repair implants (88 patients using RapidLoc, 85 patients using T–Fix, and 92 patients using FasT-Fix). There were 181 medial and 99 lateral tears; 174 tears were located in Cooper radial zone 1 and 106 tears in zone 2. All patients had concurrent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. All cases were performed by a single surgeon. Follow-up assessment included clinical examination, arthrometry (KT-1000), the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) criteria, and Lysholm functional questionnaires. Success clinical criteria included absence of joint-line tenderness, swelling, blocking, and negative McMurray and Appley test.

Results: Mean follow-up was 26 months (range, 9–36 months). Tear length averaged 2.7 cm (range, 1.2–4.3 cm). An average of 2.4 suture devices was used (1.9 of RapidLoc, 3.1 of T–Fix, and 2.2 of FasT-Fix). Twenty eight menisci repairs were consider as failures according to our criteria (success rate 92.4% for FasT-Fix, 87% for TFix, and 86,5% for RapidLoc). There were 16 re-look arthroscopies for device removal and partial meniscectomy, with 8 patients having failure of meniscal repair in zone 2. Both the subjective Lysholm and IKDC scores were significantly improved, with higher improvement in FasT-Fix patients’ group. Chronicity, location or length of the tear, and patients’ age did not affect the clinical outcome.

Conclusions: The compared meniscal repair systems showed comparable clinical results. Meniscal repair systems appeared to be a safe and effective technique providing a high rate meniscus healing in both complex tears and tears located in Cooper radial zone 2.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present a new surgical method for the reconstruction of the recurrent sprain of the ankle.

Material – Methods: From 1980 until 1997, 17 patients 3 females and 14 males, average age 25.53 (19 – 44) underwent surgery suffering recurrent sprain of the ankle. In 11 patients the right ankle was involved and in 6 patients the left ankle. The cause of the injury was: athletic activities in 9 cases, weekend activities in 7 cases and daily activities in 1 case.

The patients were suffering from ankle instability 4–15 years prior the operation. All the patients underwent reconstructive surgery of the anterolateral elements (capsule and ligaments) according to senior author’s method. This included shortening of the anterolateral elements, capsule and ligaments, overlaping the anterolateral part over the anterolateral one in such a way, that the anterior drawer and varus tests were negative with the patient under anaesthesia.

Results: The follow up is 2–12 years. A patient underwent for a second time surgery, because of a new injury. In 2 patients early signs of ankle osteoarthritis. In the rest of them, restoration of the function of the ankle joint was excellent, obtaining full activities 3 months postperatively.

Conclusion: This surgical method for the reconstruction of the recurrent sprain of the ankle is considered satisfactory and when indicated allows young patients and athletes to participate in a rather short period of time, in their previous level of activities.