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

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

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.

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Authors and 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

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  1. Masataka Deie
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  2. Yoshio Sumen
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  3. Nobuo Adachi
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  4. Atsuo Nakamae
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  5. Ayato Miyamoto
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  6. Atsushi Kanaya
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  7. Mitsuo Ochi
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Correspondence to Masataka Deie.

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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

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

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