Meniscus Allograft Transplantation

This procedure is performed when a patient has significant pain and deficiency or loss of the meniscus.  Unfortunately, if the meniscus is damaged badly or if it fails to heal after an attempt at surgical repair, it may require removal.  If this is a large portion of your meniscus this can expose the remaining cartilage in your knee to increased stress and place you at increased risk for development of arthritis.  Meniscal transplant is a joint-preservation procedure done to help prevent articular cartilage loss that occurs after large-scale meniscus removal. 

A fresh donor meniscus is size-matched based on preoperative imaging studies such as x-rays, CT scan, or MRI.  Other procedures may be done at the same surgery, such as osteotomy (realignment) or cartilage restoration.  The allograft meniscus is inserted using arthroscopy to assist in visualizing.  It is then sutured into place.  This is a time-consuming, complex procedure performed by only select institutions, and its success may depend on a simultaneous realignment procedure.  Dr. Frush is one of the Midwest’s most experienced surgeons in these techniques.