Table 1.

Pearls and Pitfalls

Pearls	Pitfalls
Clean the bed of the root repair location until bleeding healthy bone is observed.	Failure to repair the meniscal root in an anatomical position can lead to unfavorable results.
Place the more posterior of the tibial tunnels first. Space the 2 tunnels approximately 5 mm apart.	Soft tissue bridges in the arthroscopic portal may result in tearing of the sutures through the meniscal root when the sutures are pulled down the tibial tunnel.
Create an accessory anteromedial or anterolateral portal (for medial or lateral meniscal repairs, respectively) to allow an arthroscopic grasper to firmly hold the torn meniscal root and facilitate suture passing.	Intra-articular suture tangling may occur if both sutures are passed through the meniscus, instead of placing 1 and shuttling it through the posterior tibial tunnel before placing the second.
An accessory posterior portal is created in cases when the surgeon is unable to pass the sutures into the root tear through the anterior portals, such as in cases of tight medial or lateral compartments.	Deep leg presses and squats greater than 70° of knee flexion put stress on the posterior meniscal roots and can result in a failed repair, especially if performed before 4 months postoperatively.