Posterior Root Tear of the Medial MeniscusNCT07408323
Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair Versus Suture Anchor Repair in Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus
A study testing Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair and Suture Anchor Repair in people with Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus and Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair, run by Al-Azhar University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
The menisci play a fundamental role in maintaining normal knee biomechanics by distributing load, absorbing shock, providing stability, and facilitating joint lubrication. Damage to the meniscus, particularly root tears, disrupts hoop tension and leads to altered joint loading patterns. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus, Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair, Suture Anchor Repair
- What is being tested?
- Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair and Suture Anchor Repair
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 23 Aug 2023to 30 May 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 20 and 50 years, both sexes.
- Acute or degenerative posterior root tear of the medial meniscus confirmed by MRI.
- Isolated medial meniscus root tear or tear associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
- Willingness to participate and sign informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Refusal to participate.
- Knee joint malalignment (varus/valgus) confirmed clinically and radiologically.
- Osteoarthritis grade III or IV according to Kellgren-Lawrence classification.
- Irreparable or severely degenerated crushed meniscus.
- Prior ipsilateral knee fracture, infection, or tumor.
- Patients were deemed unfit for surgery or anesthesia.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair Versus Suture Anchor Repair in Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus: An Open-Label, Blinded-Endpoint, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
The menisci play a fundamental role in maintaining normal knee biomechanics by distributing load, absorbing shock, providing stability, and facilitating joint lubrication. Damage to the meniscus, particularly root tears, disrupts hoop tension and leads to altered joint loading patterns. This condition accelerates cartilage degeneration and predisposes patients to early-onset osteoarthritis, especially when untreated or inadequately managed.
Posterior root medial meniscus tears (PRMMTs) have gained increasing clinical attention in the past two decades. These injuries are biomechanically equivalent to a total meniscectomy because they cause extrusion of the meniscus and loss of its load- sharing capacity. PRMMTs typically affect middle-aged and older patients, often associated with degenerative changes, but can also occur in younger populations following trauma or high-impact activities.
Read more
The clinical presentation of PRMMTs is often subtle, with patients experiencing posterior knee pain, mechanical symptoms, and joint line tenderness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the gold standard for diagnosis, with characteristic findings such as the "ghost sign" and meniscal extrusion beyond 3 mm. However, diagnosis is frequently delayed, contributing to the progression of cartilage degeneration by the time of surgical intervention.
Several risk factors have been identified, including female gender, obesity, varus malalignment, and increased posterior tibial slope. These factors not only predispose patients to PRMMTs but also influence the prognosis following surgical repair. Given the high prevalence of these risk factors, especially in populations with rising obesity and osteoarthritis incidence, effective treatment strategies have become essential.
Surgical repair techniques have evolved significantly to restore hoop stresses and improve long-term outcomes. Two widely practiced arthroscopic methods are the transtibial pullout suture repair and the suture anchor repair. Both aim to reattach the meniscal root to its anatomical footprint, thereby restoring biomechanics and delaying degenerative progression.
- Conditions
- Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus, Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair, Suture Anchor Repair
- Being tested
- Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair, Suture Anchor Repair
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture RepairProcedure or surgery
Patients will have arthroscopic transtibial pullout for their Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus according to the description in the protocol
Suture Anchor RepairProcedure or surgery
patients will had this procedure according to the description in the protocol
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair | Experimental | Not described Receives: Procedure: Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair |
| Suture Anchor Repair | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Procedure: Suture Anchor Repair |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
subjective functional improvement assessed via the Arabic validated form of the Lysholm score.
The Lysholm score is a 100-point, patient-reported questionnaire evaluating knee ligament and meniscus injury, with higher scores indicating better function. Score of 95-100 indicate excellent function, 84-94 indicate good function, 65-83 indicate fair function, while less than 65 indicates poor function
Measured: 1 year
subjective functional improvement assessed via the Arabic validated form of the International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 score
The International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 score is a 19-item patient-reported outcome measure scoring symptoms, activity, and function on a 0-100 scale. Higher scores indicate better knee function and fewer symptoms.
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Feb 2026
- Study start23 Aug 2023
- Primary completion30 Mar 2025
- Study completion30 May 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Posterior Root Tear of the Medial MeniscusStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Al-Azhar UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Al-Azhar University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Adham Tawfik, Al-Azhar University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07408323
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1971/4-7-2023
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair Versus Suture Anchor Repair in Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus: An Open-Label, Blinded-Endpoint, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07408323
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1971/4-7-2023
- Conditions
- Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus, Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair, Suture Anchor Repair
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Al-Azhar UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 23 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 May 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The menisci play a fundamental role in maintaining normal knee biomechanics by distributing load, absorbing shock, providing stability, and facilitating joint lubrication. Damage to the meniscus, particularly root tears, disrupts hoop tension and leads to altered joint loading patterns. This condition accelerates cartilage degeneration and predisposes patients to early-onset osteoarthritis, especially when untreated or inadequately managed.
Posterior root medial meniscus tears (PRMMTs) have gained increasing clinical attention in the past two decades. These injuries are biomechanically equivalent to a total meniscectomy because they cause extrusion of the meniscus and loss of its load- sharing capacity. PRMMTs typically affect middle-aged and older patients, often associated with degenerative changes, but can also occur in younger populations following trauma or high-impact activities.
The clinical presentation of PRMMTs is often subtle, with patients experiencing posterior knee pain, mechanical symptoms, and joint line tenderness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the gold standard for diagnosis, with characteristic findings such as the "ghost sign" and meniscal extrusion beyond 3 mm. However, diagnosis is frequently delayed, contributing to the progression of cartilage degeneration by the time of surgical intervention.
Several risk factors have been identified, including female gender, obesity, varus malalignment, and increased posterior tibial slope. These factors not only predispose patients to PRMMTs but also influence the prognosis following surgical repair. Given the high prevalence of these risk factors, especially in populations with rising obesity and osteoarthritis incidence, effective treatment strategies have become essential.
Surgical repair techniques have evolved significantly to restore hoop stresses and improve long-term outcomes. Two widely practiced arthroscopic methods are the transtibial pullout suture repair and the suture anchor repair. Both aim to reattach the meniscal root to its anatomical footprint, thereby restoring biomechanics and delaying degenerative progression.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair | Experimental | Procedure: Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair |
| Suture Anchor Repair | Active comparator | Procedure: Suture Anchor Repair |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 50 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age between 20 and 50 years, both sexes.
- Acute or degenerative posterior root tear of the medial meniscus confirmed by MRI.
- Isolated medial meniscus root tear or tear associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
- Willingness to participate and sign informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Refusal to participate.
- Knee joint malalignment (varus/valgus) confirmed clinically and radiologically.
- Osteoarthritis grade III or IV according to Kellgren-Lawrence classification.
- Irreparable or severely degenerated crushed meniscus.
- Prior ipsilateral knee fracture, infection, or tumor.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture RepairPatients will have arthroscopic transtibial pullout for their Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus according to the description in the protocol | Procedure or surgery | Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair |
| Suture Anchor Repairpatients will had this procedure according to the description in the protocol | Procedure or surgery | Suture Anchor Repair |
Primary outcome
subjective functional improvement assessed via the Arabic validated form of the Lysholm score.
Time frame: 1 year
The Lysholm score is a 100-point, patient-reported questionnaire evaluating knee ligament and meniscus injury, with higher scores indicating better function. Score of 95-100 indicate excellent function, 84-94 indicate good function, 65-83 indicate fair function, while less than 65 indicates poor function
subjective functional improvement assessed via the Arabic validated form of the International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 score
Time frame: 1 year
The International Knee Documentation Committee 2000 score is a 19-item patient-reported outcome measure scoring symptoms, activity, and function on a 0-100 scale. Higher scores indicate better knee function and fewer symptoms.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Feb 2026.
Related trials for Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus
Enrolling by invitation
The Effect of Centralization on Medial Meniscal Extrusion for Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tear Repair
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair and Suture Anchor Repair in people with Posterior Root Tear of the Medial Meniscus and Arthroscopic Transtibial Pullout Suture Repair, run by Al-Azhar University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
subjective functional improvement assessed via the Arabic validated form of the Lysholm score. (time frame: 1 year). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Feb 2026.