Long-term results after combined medial meniscal allograft transplantation and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: minimum 8.5-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term results after medial meniscal allograft transplantation combined with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective clinical outcome study.

METHODS

Between 1990 and 1992, 9 medial meniscal allograft transplantations were performed in symptomatic knees with a previous total or near-total medial meniscectomy. One of the 9 patients required transplant removal postoperatively because of a presumed low-grade infection versus immune reaction. The remaining 8 patients were evaluated, with an average follow-up time of 9.7 years. All 8 patients underwent an ACL reconstruction. One patient also had a staged high tibial osteotomy.

RESULTS

All 8 patients were evaluated with the standard International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) form with no normal scores: 1 had a nearly normal score, 4 had abnormal scores, and 3 severely abnormal scores. The IKDC symptoms evaluation produced 2 normal scores, 5 nearly normal scores, and 1 abnormal score. The IKDC function test showed 5 normal scores, 1 nearly normal score, and 2 abnormal scores. Six of the 8 patients were extremely pleased with the function of the knee and were active in recreational sports. All 8 patients would recommend the procedure to a friend and would undergo the procedure again given similar circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study agree with several other studies with shorter follow-up times that medial meniscal allograft transplantation can significantly improve knee function in symptomatic medial meniscus-deficient knees. The addition of a ligament-stabilizing procedure probably improved the results in this patient population.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Case Series.