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One-year clinical and MR imaging outcome after partial meniscal replacement in stabilized knees using a collagen meniscus implant

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes after medial/lateral collagen meniscus substitution (CMI) at 12 months postoperatively.

Methods

Sixty-seven patients (m:f = 47:20, mean age 36 ± 10 years) underwent arthroscopic CMI after previous subtotal medial (n = 55) or lateral meniscectomy (n = 12) due to persistent joint line pain (n = 25) or to prophylactic reasons (n = 42). Clinical follow-up consisted of IKDC score, Tegner score, Lysholm score, and visual analog scale for pain and satisfaction (preinjury, preoperatively, and 12 months postoperatively; follow-up rate 90 %). MRI scans were analyzed according to the Genovese criteria.

Results

Nineteen patients (29 %) showed a normal (A), 35 nearly normal (B), 5 abnormal (C), and 1 patient severely abnormal total IKDC score (D). The median Tegner preinjury score was 7 (range 2–10) and at follow-up 6 (range 2–10). The mean Lysholm score before surgery was 68 ± 20 and 93 ± 9 at follow-up. Preoperatively, the mean VAS pain was 4.4 ± 3.1 and 2.0 ± 1.0 at follow-up. Clinical failure of the CMI occurred in 3 patients (n = 1 infection, n = 1 failure of the implant, n = 1 chronic synovitis). On MRI, the CMI was completely resorbed in 3 patients (5 %), partially resorbed in 55 (92 %), and entirely preserved in 3 (5 %) patients. In 5 patients (8 %) the CMI was isointense, in 54 (90 %) slightly and 1 (2 %) highly hyperintense. 43 (72 %) patients showed an extrusion of the CMI implant of more than 3 mm.

Conclusions

Significant pain relief and functional improvement throughout all scores at 1 year was noted. The CMI undergoes significant remodeling, degradation, resorption, and extrusion in most of the patients. No difference in outcomes between the medial and lateral CMI was observed.

Level of evidence

Prospective therapeutic study, Level IV.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a financial grant from Ivy Sports Medicine, Baar, Switzerland for statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Kantonsspital Bruderholz, 4101, Bruderholz, Switzerland

    M. T. Hirschmann, L. Keller, L. Schenk, N. F. Friederich & M. P. Arnold

  2. Department of Radiology, Balgrist, Zürich, Switzerland

    A. Hirschmann

  3. SportClinic, Zurich, Switzerland

    R. Berbig & U. Lüthi

  4. Amsler Consulting, Basel, Switzerland

    F. Amsler

Authors
  1. M. T. Hirschmann
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  2. L. Keller
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  3. A. Hirschmann
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  4. L. Schenk
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  5. R. Berbig
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  6. U. Lüthi
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  7. F. Amsler
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  8. N. F. Friederich
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  9. M. P. Arnold
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. T. Hirschmann.

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Hirschmann, M.T., Keller, L., Hirschmann, A. et al. One-year clinical and MR imaging outcome after partial meniscal replacement in stabilized knees using a collagen meniscus implant. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21, 740–747 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2259-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2259-0

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