Anterior meniscus root avulsion following intramedullary nailing for a tibial shaft fracture.

Abstract

This paper presents the first reported case of iatrogenic injury to the anterior medial meniscal root attachment following intramedullary nailing for a tibial shaft fracture. The patient experienced a closed right tibia-fibula fracture 7 years prior to presentation, which was treated with a reamed intramedullary nail. The nail was removed 3 years after the index surgery due to chronic anterior knee pain, which persisted following hardware removal. At presentation, the patient was diagnosed with an anterior horn medial meniscal root tear likely secondary to insertion of the intramedullary nail through the anatomic footprint of the anterior medial root. After undergoing a medial meniscus anterior horn root repair, the patient was asymptomatic and resumed normal activities. Case report, Level IV.