Arthroscopic selective meniscectomy is the most commonly performed surgery by all orthopedists worldwide and remains, to date, one of the most successful procedures in the short term.
Studying those who underwent this surgery 15 or 20 years ago, however, we learned that cartilage, after meniscus removal, tends to wear out faster, leading to ARTROSIS and subsequent KNEE PROTESIS.
That is why today, if possible, we try to repair the meniscal tear rather than perform a meniscectomy. We can do this when the site of the meniscal lesion is in the external area endowed with blood vessels.
If a tissue has blood vessels, it is capable of forming a scar if an arthroscopic suture is placed.
Thus, if we have had a meniscectomy and, after years, cartilage wear is due to missing part of a previously removed meniscus, a allograft meniscus transplantation may be considered to protect the progression of wear.
Meniscus allograft transplantation: the surgical procedure
Arthroscopic meniscus transplantation is an innovative surgery that allows cartilage to be preserved for several years before considering making a prosthesis.
The results are related to the timing of the surgery: one can live pain-free even for more than 10 years after surgery, being able to play even mid- to high-level sports.
The surgery involves arthroscopic placement of a meniscus from the bone bank, which is then sutured to the remains of the previously removed meniscus.
post-operative rehabilitation
Postoperative rehabilitation of meniscus allograft transplantation involves the use of a postoperative knee brace for the first month that is released after 15 days, allowing progressive flexion-extension.
Full load on the limb is achieved about 40 days after surgery.
Return to running is allowed about 3 months after surgery.
Knee osteotomy and meniscus allograft transplantation can be combined with hyaluronic acid or PRP (“platelet-rich-plasma”) infiltrative therapies.
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