The meniscus healing capacity is obstructed by its
poor vascular supply, therefore various proposed techniques
enhance vascularity. One of the options is to make a transverse
incision to connect the tear with the periphery of the
meniscus. Twenty-four mature sheep were operated on
making a longitudinal incision in the red-white zone of the
medial meniscus. A transverse incision was made connecting
the tear with the periphery and then the tear was sutured.
Specimens were harvested at 3, 6, 12, 26, 32, and 52 weeks,
four animals at each time period. Laboratory analysis included
light microscopy, collagen type II content measurement,
and absorption spectrophotometry for glicosamin-glycanes.
Meniscus healing was incomplete in 91% of the cases at the
anterior arm of the tear and in 81% at the posterior arm. At
early stages the scar was rich in type II collagen but decreased
with time until the levels of a normal meniscus.
Glicosamin-glycane content increased to two fold the level of
a normal meniscus. Histology did not confirm the good results
observed by arthroscopy after meniscal repair.

The meniscus healing capacity is obstructed by its
poor vascular supply, therefore various proposed techniques
enhance vascularity. One of the options is to make a transverse
incision to connect the tear with the periphery of the
meniscus. Twenty-four mature sheep were operated on
making a longitudinal incision in the red-white zone of the
medial meniscus. A transverse incision was made connecting
the tear with the periphery and then the tear was sutured.
Specimens were harvested at 3, 6, 12, 26, 32, and 52 weeks,
four animals at each time period. Laboratory analysis included
light microscopy, collagen type II content measurement,
and absorption spectrophotometry for glicosamin-glycanes.
Meniscus healing was incomplete in 91% of the cases at the
anterior arm of the tear and in 81% at the posterior arm. At
early stages the scar was rich in type II collagen but decreased
with time until the levels of a normal meniscus.
Glicosamin-glycane content increased to two fold the level of
a normal meniscus. Histology did not confirm the good results
observed by arthroscopy after meniscal repair.