Emerging treatments
Meniscus replacement
When damage to the meniscus is too severe to repair, replacing the meniscus with allograft donor tissue or implant is an option. Meniscal allograft transplantation is typically performed in patients aged 50 years or younger who have received total or subtotal meniscectomy.[46][47] Clinical outcomes are favourable, but it remains unclear whether this procedure can prevent progression to osteoarthritis.[46][47] Resorbable collagen and polyurethane-based meniscus scaffold implants are options for patients with meniscal defects or a severely damaged meniscus.[47] However, scaffold implantation is not common and more long-term data are needed.
Biological techniques
A number of techniques including application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), fibrin glue, and fibrin clot are under investigation to enhance the success of meniscus surgery.[1] One systematic review and meta-analysis found that PRP may reduce the failure rate associated with meniscal repair by up to 15.8%. There was sparse evidence for other biological augmentation techniques.[48] Another systematic review and meta-analysis found that PRP significantly improved symptoms such as pain and locking, but did not improve meniscus healing.[49] Evidence for PRP remains conflicting, with some studies reporting no benefit in the context of arthroscopic meniscal repair.[50]
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