Return to high-level sport after meniscal allograft transplantation

Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the results of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) in high school and higher-level athletes, specifically with respect to return to their preinjury level of play.

Methods: This is a retrospective case series of prospectively collected data from a single surgeon, evaluating athletes who underwent MAT. Each patient participated in either high school, collegiate, or professional athletics before injury, with a mean preinjury Tegner score of 8. In addition, patients were only included if one of their stated preoperative goals was to return to their previous level of activity. Patients completed preoperative and postoperative validated knee surveys (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, International Knee Documentation Committee score, Lysholm score, and Tegner score) and underwent physical examinations.

Results: The mean age of the 13 included patients was 19.8 years, with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years (range, 1.9 to 5.7 years). After MAT, 10 of 13 patients (77%) returned to sporting activity. The mean Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for the sport subset was 76 (SD, 18), the mean International Knee Documentation Committee score was 77 (SD, 14), and the mean Lysholm score was 81 (SD, 13). Of the 13 patients, 3 (23%) required further surgery, comprising one revision MAT, one partial meniscectomy, and one meniscal repair.

Conclusions: In this small retrospective series, 77% of high school and higher-level athletes with meniscal deficiency and symptomatic "post-meniscectomy syndrome" returned to their desired level of play after MAT. These athletes also had significant improvements in most outcome measures.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.