Initial Outcomes following Fresh Meniscus Allograft Transplantation in the Knee

Based on recent evidence-based advances in meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT), fresh (viable) meniscus allografts have potential for mitigating key risk factors associated with MAT failure, and preclinical and clinical data have verified the safety of fresh meniscus allografts as well as possible efficacy advantages compared with fresh-frozen meniscus allografts. The objective of this study was to prospectively assess clinical outcomes for the initial cohort of patients undergoing MAT using fresh meniscus allografts at our center. Patients who were prospectively enrolled in a dedicated registry were included for analyses when they had undergone primary MAT using a fresh meniscus allograft for treatment of medial and/or lateral meniscus deficiency with at least 1-year follow-up data recorded. Forty-five patients with a mean final follow-up of 47.8 months (range = 12-90 months) were analyzed. The mean patient age was 30.7 years (range = 15-60 years), mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.7 kg/m² (range = 19-48 kg/m²), and 14 patients (31%) were females. In total, 28 medial, 13 lateral, and 4 combined medial and lateral MATs with 23 concurrent ligament reconstructions and 2 concurrent osteotomies were included. No local or systemic adverse events or complications related to MAT were reported for any patient in the study. Treatment success rate for all patients combined was 91.1% with three patients requiring MAT revision and one patient requiring arthroplasty. Treatment failures occurred 8 to 34 months after MAT and all involved the medial meniscus. None of the variables assessed were significantly different between treatment success and treatment failure cohorts. Taken together, the data suggest that the use of fresh (viable) meniscus allografts can be considered a safe and effective option for medial and lateral MAT. When transplanted using double bone plug suspensory fixation with meniscotibial ligament reconstruction, fresh MATs were associated with a 91% success rate, absence of local or systemic adverse events or complications, and statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported measures of pain and function at a mean of 4 years postoperatively.