Meniscus Transplant Surgery: Am I a Candidate?
The meniscus is a C-shaped cushion of cartilage in the knee joint. When people talk about "torn cartilage" in the knee, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus.
If the meniscus is so badly damaged that it cannot be repaired, it may need to be removed or trimmed out. This is called a partial meniscectomy and is often effective in relieving the pain of a meniscus tear.
When the meniscus is largely gone, however, persistent knee pain and or osteoarthritis can develop. For many older patients with this condition, a total or partial joint replacement might be the right option. But active people who are younger than 40 may be eligible for an alternative treatment: meniscal transplant surgery.
A meniscal transplant replaces the damaged meniscus with donor tissue matched for size.
Meniscal transplants are not right for everyone. If you already have arthritis in your knee, a meniscal transplant may not help you. For a select group of people, however, meniscal transplants can offer significant pain relief.
