J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2007 Feb;42(1):77-83. 10.4055/jkoa.2007.42.1.77.

Clinical Evaluation using MRI and Arthroscopy after Meniscal Transplantation

• Cho SH
• Kim JG

• KMID: 2106379
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2007.42.1.77

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the status of transplanted menisci using MRI and arthroscopy.
Materials and Methods
Between March 1998 and October 2004, twenty three patients underwent a meniscal transplant at our institution. Twenty-one out of 23 patients were available for follow-up and were evaluated an average of 44 months (range, 19 to 87 months). Four allografts were medial and 17 were lateral. There were 17 men and 4 women with ages ranging from 16 to 47 years (mean, 29.6 years). The clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Lysholm score, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score and the modified Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score. MRI and arthroscopic examinations were performed in 18 and 11 patients respectively.
Results
The average Lysholm score improved from 60.6 to 85.7, and that of the IKDC subjective score and modified HSS score (knee score/functional score) was 79.5 and 88/93 respectively. Six of the eleven knees that underwent the arthroscopic examinations were confirmed to be normal. The MRI evaluation revealed all the allografts to have healed completely but there was degeneration/shrinkage of the allografts, and injuries to the surrounding articular cartilage. Extrusion or subluxation of the menisci was observed in all cases.
Conclusion
Meniscal transplantation may be an effective procedure for young and active patients suffering from pain after a meniscectomy with minimal degenerative changes. However, a partial tear, extrusion or subluxation of the allograft menisci and a progression of degenerative arthritis have been reported. Therefore, more accurate and reliable surgical techniques as well as a long-term follow-up are recommended.

Keyword

Meniscal transplantation; Arthroscopic examination; Extrusion or subluxation; MRI

MeSH Terms

Allografts
Arthroscopy*
Cartilage, Articular
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Knee
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Osteoarthritis

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 MR image of the lateral meniscus showing the extrusion of the transplanted lateral meniscus.

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