Meniscal allograft transplantation is a transplant of a knee meniscus from one person to another.
Page updated July 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
The graft can be inserted via different methods.
Here a donor meniscus with a bone block is prepared to be slotted into a matching slot in the bone at the top of the tibia in a 'tongue-and-groove' fashion..
Objectives of a meniscal transplant
The objective of a transplant is to restore the shock absorption on that side, and improve the limb alignment - both of which should lessen the risk of joint arthritis.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....the general expert opinion is still that it is a procedure that should be reserved for symptomatic meniscal loss...."
Citation: Figueroa F, Figueroa D, Calvo R, Vaisman A, Espregueira-Mendes J. Meniscus allograft transplantation: indications, techniques and outcomes. EFORT Open Rev. 2019 Apr 25;4(4):115-120. doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180052. PMID: 31057948; PMCID: PMC6491952.
How long does a meniscal allograft last?
A meniscal allograft transplantation may last for many years, but there may nonetheless some progression to osteoarthritis.
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Quote from peer-reviewed paper:
"....The mean time to failure of the meniscal graft was 206.2 months ± 13.4 (18.0 years)...."
Citation: Torres-Claramunt R, Morales-Avalos R, Perelli S, Padilla-Medina JR, Monllau JC. Good clinical outcomes can be expected after meniscal allograft transplantation at 15 years of follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2023 Jan;31(1):272-278. doi: 10.1007/s00167-022-07106-z. Epub 2022 Aug 16. PMID: 35972520.
Forum discussions
- MENISCUS TRANSPLANT - SOCCER/FOOTBALL
Patients discuss meniscal trasplant and allograft.
Relevant material -
2010 - Biologic Knee Replacement - by Dr Kevin Robert Stone (Knee Surgeon)
2008 - An update on state-of-the-art surgery for the menisci - by Dr (Mr) Ian McDermott (Knee Surgeon)
2005 - A case history: the state of the art in knee restoration - by Dr Chadwick C Prodromos (Knee Surgeon)
Peer-reviewed paper - 2020 - The results of meniscal allograft transplantation surgery: what is success?
Journal article interpretation by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)