RESEARCH & ARTICLES

Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: How Should We Be Doing It? A Systematic Review

Purpose: To determine the most successful graft fixation methods, rehabilitation protocols, outcome scores and definitions of failure across existing literature for Meniscal Allograft Transplantation (MAT).

Summary:

  • The best allograft is fresh frozen and not irradiated
  • Graft sizing should be performed, most commonly the Pollard method is used with successful results
  • Graft fixation varies – some surgeons use bone blocks and some use soft tissue fixation
  • Rehabilitation protocols differ, most have patients fully weight bearing by 6 weeks post-op
  • MRI has shown to be accurate in identifying meniscal healing and is recommended for routine follow-up after MAT
  • There is not a uniform definition of failure across the literature making comparison between studies difficult

Take Away: There is evidence that MAT provides pain relief, improves function and has good reported results in mid- and long-term studies. Presently there is not enough data to support one technique of MAT over another.

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Peter Myers, MBB, FRACS, FA Orth A and Francois Tudor, MBBs, MSc, FRCS. "Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: How Should We Be Doing It? A Systematic Review". Arthroscopy. 2015 May;31(5):911-925. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2014.11.020. Epub 2015 Jan 14.