Knee Specialties Meniscal Allograft Transplantation

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Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Overview

The knee meniscus serves a critical role for joint function. Meniscus deficiency may occur following injury and/or previous surgery. Patient with symptomatic meniscus deficiency may benefit from a meniscus allograft transplantation to reduce pain and improve quality of life.


Why Meniscal Allograft Transplantation?

Meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) replaces the damaged or missing “shock absorber” with a cadaver meniscus that is size and age matched to the specific patient. MAT restores contact pressures to the joint compartment thereby improving patient symptoms.

Who Should Have a Meniscal Allograft Transplantation?

Patients with meniscus deficiency AND persistent pain, swelling, and/or instability symptoms following prior injury or surgery may benefit from MAT. In general, MAT is geared towards improving quality of life including daily life and low impact activities. Rarely is MAT indicated specifically for return to the highest level of cutting/pivoting/contact sport.

What Can I Expect From a Meniscal Allograft Transplantation?

MAT is either an outpatient or short overnight stay procedure that takes several hours to perform. This may be performed with concomitant ligament reconstruction, realignment osteotomy, and/or cartilage restoration surgery. Patients have an initial period of protection using brace/crutches for approximately 6-8 weeks. Post-operative rehabilitation is performed 2-3x/week for several months. Return to work or sport is INDIVIDUALIZED and is based on minimum time from surgery (~4-6 months) and, more importantly, functional progression with rehabilitation.