Skip to main content

The long-term results of meniscus transplantation for articular cartilage defects in the knee joint

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy volume 15, pages 61–66 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term clinical results of meniscus transplantation for articular cartilage defects in the knee joint. The type of study was case series. From October 1990 to June 1995, eight cases underwent allogenic or autogenic meniscus transplantations for articular cartilage defects, and seven cases were available for follow-up evaluations. The age at surgery ranged from 14 to 42 years of age (average 22.5). In one case, transplantation of tissue-engineered cartilage was performed due to pain 5 years after surgery. The other six cases were followed up for 8–13 years (average 10.1). The size of the cartilage defect ranged from 1.0 to 6.3 cm2 (average 2.8 cm2). Patients were evaluated with the Lysholm score and MR images. We also performed arthroscopic examinations in three cases at the final evaluation. This study leads to the conclusion that meniscus transplantation for articular cartilage damage is not comparable to autologous chondrocyte transplantation. Two cases showed a good clinical outcome but the tissue remained as fibrocartilage tissue in the long-term.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  1. Brittberg M, Lindahl A, Nilsson A, Ohlsson C, Isaksson O, Peterson L (1994) Treatment of deep cartilage defects in the knee with autologous chondrocyte transplantation. N Engl J Med 331:889–895

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ochi M, Uchio Y, Kawasaki K, Wakitani S, Iwasa J (2002) Transplantataion of cartilage-like tissue made by tissue engineering in the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br 84:571–578

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Yamashita F, Sakakida K, Suzu F, Takai S (1985) The transplantation of an autogeneic osteochondral fragment for osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. Clin Orthop 201:43–50

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hangody L, Karpathi Z (1994) A new surgical treatment of localized cartilaginous defects of the knee. Hung J Orthop Traum 37:237

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ochi M, Uchio Y, Kawasaki K, Wakitani S, Iwasa J (2002) Transplantation of cartilage-like tissue made by tissue engineering in the treatment of cartilage defects of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br 84:571–578

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Buckwalter JA, Mankin HJ (1998) Articular cartilage repair and transplantation. Arthritis Rheum 41:1331–1342

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Steadman JR, Briggs KK, Rodrigo JJ, Kocher MS, Gill TJ, Rodkey WG (2003) Outcomes of microfracture for traumatic chondral defects of the knee: average 11 year follow-up. Arthroscopy 19:477–484

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Knutsen G, Engebretsen L, Ludvigsen TC, Drogset JO, Grontvedt T, Solheim E, Strand T, Roberts S, Isaksen V, Johansen O (2004) Autologous chondrocyte implantation compared with microfracture in the knee. A randomized trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am 86A:455–464

    Google Scholar 

  9. O’Driscoll S, Keely FW, Salter RB (1988) Durability of regenerated articular cartilage produced by free autogenous periosteal grafts in major full-thickness defects in joint surfaces under influence of continuous passive motion. J Bone Joint Surg Am 70:595–606

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Rubak JM (1982) Reconstrcution of articular cartilage defects with free periosteal grafts. Acta Orthop Scand 53:175–180

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Coutts RD, Woo SL, Amiel D, von Schroeder HP, Kwan MK (1992) Rib perichondrial autografts in fullthickness articular cartilage defects in rabbits. Clin Orthop 275:263–273

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Muckle DS, Minns RJ (1990) Biological response to woven carbon fiber pads in the knee: a clinical and experimental study. J Bone Joint Surg Br 72:60–62

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Coletti M, Akeson WH, Wood SL-Y (1972) A comparison of the physical behavior of normal articular cartilage and the arthroplasty surface. J Bone Joint Surg Am 54:147–160

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Klimkiewicz JJ, Shaffer B (2002) Meniscal surgery 2002 update: indications and techniques for resection, repair, regeneration, and replacement. Arthroscopy 18:14–25

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Sumen Y, Ochi M, Ikuta Y (1995) Treatment of articular defects with meniscal allografts in a rabbit knee model. Arthroscopy 11:185–193

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ochi M, Sumen Y, Jitsuiki J, Ikuta Y (1995) Allogeneic deep frozen meniscal graft for repair of osteochondral defects in the knee joint. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 114:260–266

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Arnoczky SP, Dicarlo EF, O’Brien SJ, Warren RF (1992) Cellular repopulation of deep frozen meniscal autografts: an experimental study in the dog. Arthroscopy 8:428–436

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Milachowski KA, Weisemeier K Wirth CJ (1989) Homologous meniscus transplantation. Experimental and clinical results. Int Orthop 13:1–11

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Garrett JC, Stevensen RN (1991) Meniscal transplantation in the human knee: a preliminary report. Arthroscopy 7(1):57–62

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  20. van Arkel de Boer (2002) Survival analysis of human meniscal transplantations. J Bone Joint Surg Br 84:227–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Wirth CJ, Peters G, Milachowski KA Weismeir KG, Kohn D (2002) Long-term results of meniscal allograft transplantation. Am J Sports Med 30:174–181

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Stollsteimer GT, Shleton WR, Dukes A (2000) Meniscal allograft transplantation: two-to eight-year results. Am J Sports Med 16:343–347

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Heatley FW, Revell WJ (1985) The use of meniscal fibrocartilage as surface arthroplasty to effect the repair of osteochondral defects: an experimental study. Biomaterials 6:161–168

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gomar-Sancho F, Orquin EG (1987) Repair of osteochondral defects in articular weightbearing areas in the rabbits knee—the use of autologous osteochondral and meniscal grafts. Int Orthop 11:65–69

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kusayama T, Tomatsu T, Akasaka O, Imai N (1991) Autogenious meniscus grafts in articular cartilage defects: an experimental study. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 16:145–151

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Hangody L, Fules P (2003) Autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty for the treatment of full-thickness defects of weight-bearing joints: Ten years of experimental and clinical experience. J Bone Joint Surg Am 85:25–32

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Brittberg M, Peterson L, Sjoumlgren-Jansson E, Tallheden T, Lindahl A (2003) Articular cartilage engineering with autologous chondrocyte transplantation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 85:109–115

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Masataka Deie, Yoshio Sumen, Nobuo Adachi, Atsuo Nakamae, Ayato Miyamoto, Atsushi Kanaya & Mitsuo Ochi

Authors
  1. Masataka Deie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yoshio Sumen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nobuo Adachi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Atsuo Nakamae
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ayato Miyamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Atsushi Kanaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mitsuo Ochi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masataka Deie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Deie, M., Sumen, Y., Adachi, N. et al. The long-term results of meniscus transplantation for articular cartilage defects in the knee joint. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthr 15, 61–66 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-006-0120-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-006-0120-z

Keywords

  • Menicus tissue
  • Meniscus implantation
  • Articular cartilage defect