Extrusions do not affect degenerative morphologic changes in lateral meniscus allografts during midterm follow-ups

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) is a common procedure for knee injuries.
• Assessing graft integrity and degenerative changes is crucial for long-term outcomes.
• Graft extrusion is a potential complication that may influence graft degeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate degenerative morphological changes in meniscus allografts after lateral MAT.
• To evaluate the influence of graft extrusion on these degenerative changes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 91 patients undergoing lateral MAT.
• Serial MRI scans evaluated at 6 weeks, 1 year, and midterm (3-7 years) follow-up.
• Comparison of meniscal width, thickness, and intrameniscal signal intensity (IMSI) between extruded and non-extruded groups.

Main Results:

• Overall mid-body meniscus width decreased (p<0.01) and IMSI increased (p<0.01) during midterm follow-ups.
• No significant differences in meniscal width, thickness, or IMSI were found between extruded and non-extruded groups at midterm.
• Incidence of meniscus tears and Lysholm scores did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions:

• Lateral MAT leads to degenerative changes in the meniscus allograft, characterized by decreased width and increased IMSI at the mid-body.
• Meniscal allograft extrusion does not appear to influence postoperative degenerative changes in width, thickness, or IMSI.
• Graft extrusion did not significantly affect meniscal tear incidence or functional outcomes (Lysholm scores).