Meniscus Allograft Transplantation

ABSTRACT

The biomechanical function of the meniscus is well known and its chondroprotective effect is very important. The meniscus should be preserved whenever possible, but subtotal or total meniscectomy is sometimes inevitable, and especially if considerable tissue damage already exists. Although meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) is performed for the meniscus-deficient knees to restore the biomechanical function of the meniscus, its current indication has been limited to the symptomatic young patients who do not have advanced osteoarthritis. However, the osteoarthritic process is usually progressive over the time even if there are minimal symptoms. When evident clinical symptoms are present, it is usually associated with advanced cartilage damage. In this status, MAT cannot be indicated or the result of surgery would be very poor. Thus, the status of the articular cartilage should be carefully assessed in subtotal or total meniscectomized knees by performing radiographic and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and a meticulous physical examination. MAT could be considered if there is an objective evidence of cartilage damage even without evident clinical symptoms.