Meniscus transplants

Hi there,

I'm 35-years old and had an skiing accident where I broke my medial meniscus. In menisectimy I lost about 80% from my medial meniscus from left foot. I'm not able to do any sports because knee is hurting so much. This meniscus transplant sounds very promising but I cannot find much clininical research about how long transplanted meniscus usually lasts.

I'm going to see my orthopedist next month and I will ask him about meniscus transplant. They have done some meniscus transplants here in Finland too.

I had a meniscus transplant on March 15th of 2005. I am now in a rehab program working on range of motion and weight bearing. So far no major issues, except that some scar tissue has gotten under my knee cap and is causing some clicking and little discomfort.

Hi. I am a 34 year old female. My dilema started when i was 12 years old when i fell out of a tree 20 ft. I avoided doctors up until i was 18ish. But since then i had 3 arthroscopic surgeries to repair a torn meniscus. This has been 22 years ongoing. Now i have no meniscus left. I thought i was going to have the carticel done but due to my condition, that is not the procedure for me. He says i would need to have the : Meniscal allograft transplant. The surgery i can handle (i hope) but it's the whole "donor" (cadaver) thing that scares me. I'd like to know anyones input, stories (success/failures), on this. He tells me this in not a small surgery but a "major" surgery. I would realy appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

Hi everyone. I just joined Knee1 because I read everyone's posts and I am in the same boat... I am to the point that I am having problems finding doctors who are willing to take my case. I have been through three doctors so far and am searching for someone new that may have an answer for me. I tore my ACL the summer before 8th grade (I was 13). Ever since then my knee has continually degraded. My surgeons have all told me it's the worst knee they've ever seen - worse than any 80-year-old man's that they take care of. I have no lateral or medial meniscus left, my ACL is lax and not intact (it's held to the bone by scar tissue fibers, but is not helping me at all), my MCL and PCL are both lax and have small tears, my patella is wearing away and has Grade IV arthritis on the underside (arthritis is graded I - IV, IV being worst), my femur has a range of Grade II - Grade IV arthritis on it, as does my tibia, and the groove in the femur (between the two 'balls' at the end) has Grade IV arthritis. Basically, my entire knee is falling apart! And I'm only 19... I am in desperate need of a knee replacement, but cannot have one, as I am too young and only a few can be done (I'd run out before I turned 65!)... My current surgeon has just cleaned out my knee again (my fourth surgery so far) and has told me that I need to do something fast. He said I can try ACL reconstruction again, a medial meniscus transplant (he said lateral isn't as common and not as necessary), or a procedure where the arthritis on the femur groove and patella is scraped off and then when it's bloody holes are drilled to the blood supply to form scar cartilage. Right now, I can usually walk, but some days have trouble with that. Stairs are excruciating and I just can't do it. I am not allowed to bend my knee excessively and restricted to upper body weight lifting and swimming only. I'm not even allowed to walk on a treadmill. The possibility of being stuck in a wheelchair is terrifying, but ever present... I don't know what to do... The doctor said I need to start having at least one of the above procedures done so that I can hopefully start to be a little more painfree. I have always been tough but the pain's starting to get too much. My ACL doesn't seem too unstabile, so we were thinking of putting that off, but if I don't do it, my knee isn't fully aligned and could cause other problems. Yet if we don't take care of the meniscus, that arthritis could get worse and the same with the femur/patella! I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or opinions. If you've had any similiar surgeries, please share your experience (both pros and cons!).

I just go notice of your post, please see my current post. I would love more info. What Doctor, what hospital, recovery info. My daughter is very depressed about this. Would love good news.

I am really interested in your experience with your son. I have a 17 yo daughter who, after her second left knee arthroscopy, has had constant pain for the last two years. Finally, someone has raised the possibility of meniscus transplant and I am anxious to hear other peoples experiences with kids this age group.

did you get any responsens to your questions, I am in the same boat with my 15 year old daughter

I would be interested in a meniscus transplant, myself, but from the little I've read on the subject via the internet it seems to be a relatively new procedure. I would guess it is done only at a few hospitals. It is my understand that the transplant comes from a cadaver. Not sure about the success rate. My lateral meniscus had to be removed during arthoscopy in January 04 and I am now scheduled for total knee replacement because of the way I am now forced to walk. With the lateral meniscus gone from the joint, the medial joint opens up wider causing my leg to swing inward as I walk.