Abstract
Technique
This technique allows insertion of the meniscal allograft without bone plugs. |
Secure fixation of the meniscal horns is achieved through bone tunnels at the attachment sites. |
Peripheral fixation is achieved using a combination of all-inside and inside-out suture systems. |
This technique has several advantages over using bone blocks, with comparable results. |
Patient Positioning
Graft Preparation


Knee Arthroscopic Evaluation
Recipient Bed Preparation
Posterior and Anterior Horn Insertion-Site Preparation
Meniscus Location | Optimal Horn Insertion Point |
---|---|
Medial meniscus | |
Posterior horn | Just posterior to medial tibial spine |
Anterior horn | Anterior and medial to insertion of ACL on superior surface of tibial plateau |
Lateral meniscus | |
Posterior horn | Just posterior to ACL, between tibial spines |
Anterior horn | Anterior to lateral tibial spine and just lateral to ACL |
Posterior and Anterior Horn Tunnel Creation
Middle Traction Suture
Graft Passage

Graft Fixation

Final Suture Fixation
Discussion
Smith NA, Parkinson B, Hutchinson CE, Costa ML, Spalding T. Is meniscal allograft transplantation chondroprotective? A systematic review of radiological outcomes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc in press, available online 19 March, 2015. doi:10.1007/s00167-015-3573-0.
Alentorn-Geli E, Seijas Vazquez R, Garcia Balletbo M, et al. Arthroscopic meniscal allograft transplantation without bone plugs. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc in press, available online 14 April, 2010. doi:10.1007/s00167-010-1123-3.
Supplementary Data
- Video 1
Lateral meniscal allograft transplantation using all-suture technique. The key aspects of this technique, including meniscal bed preparation, drilling of the meniscal horn tunnels, and meniscal insertion through the silicone cannula, are shown. The meniscus is then secured by tying the meniscal horn sutures over the bone bridge and tying a combination of all-inside and inside-out sutures to the meniscal body.
References
- Meniscal allograft transplantation in a symptomatic meniscal deficient knee: A systematic review.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015; 23: 270-279
- Twenty-six years of meniscal allograft transplantation: Is it still experimental? A meta-analysis of 44 trials.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2011; 19: 147-157
Smith NA, Parkinson B, Hutchinson CE, Costa ML, Spalding T. Is meniscal allograft transplantation chondroprotective? A systematic review of radiological outcomes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc in press, available online 19 March, 2015. doi:10.1007/s00167-015-3573-0.
- Meniscal allograft transplantation: How should we be doing it? A systematic review.Arthroscopy. 2015; 31: 911-925
- The effects of lateral meniscal allograft transplantation techniques on tibio-femoral contact pressures.Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2008; 16: 553-560
- Histological analysis of human meniscal allografts. A preliminary report.J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2000; 82: 1071-1082
- The influence of nonanatomical insertion and incongruence of meniscal transplants on the articular cartilage in an ovine model.Am J Sports Med. 2008; 36: 841-850
Alentorn-Geli E, Seijas Vazquez R, Garcia Balletbo M, et al. Arthroscopic meniscal allograft transplantation without bone plugs. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc in press, available online 14 April, 2010. doi:10.1007/s00167-010-1123-3.
Article Info
Publication History
Footnotes
The authors report the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: N.A.S. receives support from University of Warwick and a clinical research fellowship from Arthritis Research UK (grant No. 20149). P.V. receives support from DepuySynthes, Smith and Nephew, Orteq Sports Medicine, Active Implants, and Episurf.
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