Meniscus Transplantation for Arthritis

Meniscus transplantation for arthritis involves replacing the key shock absorber in the knee joint to provide pain relief.  The meniscus is torn 800,000 times a year in the U.S. alone.  When torn or lost from previous surgery, the ends of the thigh bone, the femur, rub against the top of the shin bone, the tibia.  The increased contact leads to wear of the covering articular cartilage down to the bone.  New techniques developed at The Stone Clinic in San Francisco permit meniscus transplantation for arthritis by combining meniscus transplantation for arthritis with an articular cartilage repair technique called paste grafting.  This combination procedure, performed as an outpatient, arthroscopic technique, permits patients to return to most sports without fear of damaging an artificial joint.  Patients from young teenagers to century runners in their 70’s have come to The Stone Clinic for meniscus transplantation for arthritis to diminish their joint pain.  A recent 2 – 12 year study of these patients demonstrated an 85% survival rate of the meniscus implant in patients with severe arthritis.  Part of the success is due to a novel surgical technique and part is due to a careful rehabilitation program taught to and customized for each patient.  Meniscus transplantation for arthritis is now part of our biologic knee replacement program to help people delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.

Meniscus Transplantation for Arthritis

Meniscus transplantation for arthritis is expanding the indications for meniscus replacement.  The meniscus cartilage, the key shock absorber in the knee joint, was thought to be replaceable only in young, healthy joints.  However, it is older people with arthritis who most often want a new shock absorber to buy time before considering an artificial joint replacement.  Data published by The Stone Clinic in San Francisco has recently shown that the meniscus replacement for arthritis can be successful in arthritic knees.  The 2 – 12 year study of patients with severe arthritis demonstrated improved pain and function for people who underwent the outpatient arthroscopic procedure when it was combined with treatment of the damage articular cartilage.  These findings open up the indications for this technique.  Meniscus transplantation for arthritis is indicated for active people with knee pain due to arthritis and loss of meniscus cartilage, usually with pain on one side of the joint.  The details of the surgery and rehabilitation are found at meniscus transplantation for arthritis.

avoiding knee replacement