OBJECTIVETo study the surgical skill and the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of tibial intercondylar eminence avulsion fractures using no absorbable suture fixation.

METHODSA total of 30 cases with avulsion fractures of the tibial intercondylar eminence were treated with no absorbable suture fixation from January 2001 to December 2004. All procedures were performed arthroscopically by the same surgeons. There were 8 cases of type II, 17 type III, 5 type IV based on the Meyers and McKeever classification and 26 cases were fresh fracture. The procedure was completed with the assistance from No. 18 spine needle and Kirschner wire (Ø2.0 mm and Ø1.0 mm) and director drill guide. Postoperative immobilization was not required.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 3 to 24 months, average (15.0 +/- 4.7) months. Subjective results of all cases were uniformly excellent. The mean Lysholm score was 98.4 in 18 cases of fresh fracture, and 89.8 in 4 cases of old fracture. Mean KT2000 side-to-side difference was normal in all case.

CONCLUSIONSThe technique is simple, safe, reproducible, minimal invasion and effective; postoperative immobilization is not required; knee joint function is excellent.