MENISCUS TRANSPLANT WITHOUT A BONE BLOCK (TECHNIQUE AND RESULTS)

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed description of our arthroscopic technique performed without a bone block and to report the preliminary results of our experience. This technique offers a valid alternative to meniscal allograft application performed with open techniques and/or bone blocks.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 57 patients (59 transplants) (May 01 to December 05), 35 patients (37 transplants) and analyzed the results of the subjective Lysholm test, VAS and IKDC.

Results: Mean age was 27.26 years, mean follow-up was 38.62 months. Postoperative results of the Lysholm test, subjective IKDC and VAS scale were 86.62, 78.9 y 22.14 respectively, in comparison with preoperative values of 52.25, 44.87 and 68.71. Analyzing results based on the degree of chondral damage, for grades II–III and III–IV fair and poor results were achieved in 47 % of cases and good and excellent results in 53 %. For grades 0 and I–II fair and poor results were achieved in 5.5% of cases and good and excellent results in 94.44%.

Discussion and Conclusions: Arthroscopic meniscal implant without a bone block is a technique that decreases the morbidity associated with other procedures and makes it possible to obtain results similar to those in published series, with 75% of good to excellent results (Lysholm). When managing the different variables the greatest variations were seen when comparing degree of chondral lesion with postoperative results using the different scoring systems, but no significant differences were found due to age, type of activity or transplanted meniscus. As other authors have also concluded, the degree of chondral lesion is the main prognostic factor of the functional result obtained with this technique.