Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Long-term clinical outcome of open meniscal allograft transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Meniscal allograft transplantation is an accepted treatment for the symptomatic postmeniscectomized knee in younger patients; however, long-term data are scarce on clinical outcome.

HYPOTHESIS: Cryopreserved meniscal allograft transplantations can, in the long term, be a good alternative for the symptomatic postmeniscectomized knee in younger patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: Sixty-three meniscal allografts (40 lateral and 23 medial) were transplanted with an open procedure in 57 patients. Clinical outcome and failure rate were evaluated at 13.8 +/- 2.8 years. Mean age at time of transplantation was 39.4 +/- 6.9 years.

RESULTS: Eight medial and 10 lateral allografts failed (overall failure rate, 29%). Overall Lysholm scores significantly improved from 36 +/- 18 preoperatively to 61 +/- 20 at long-term follow-up. Scores were not significantly different in the following subgroups: medial allografts, female patients, and left treated knees. All subgroups had poor scores at mean follow-up of 13.8 years, except the male patients group, which had a fair score. Short-term Lysholm scores were 79 +/- 19 at 3.1 +/- 1.5 years. All subgroups demonstrated a significant difference between short- and long-term Lysholm scores. There were no significant differences in Lysholm scores between posttransplanted survivors and posttransplanted nonsurvivors who received a total knee arthroplasty. For 2 other measures-the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and the International Knee Documentation Committee scoring system-significant decline was present between men and women only.

CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up results show that meniscal allograft transplantation is a beneficial procedure. Good improvements in clinical function and pain relief have been shown at short-term follow-up in this population. Despite the deterioration in function scores over time, there is still improvement in level of function at long-term follow-up but not at a high level. As such, meniscal allograft transplantation is a good salvage option for the treatment of degenerative arthritis of the symptomatic post-meniscectomized knee. Meniscal allograft transplantation can be used to postpone total knee arthroplasty in younger patients.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app