J Knee Surg 2005; 18(1): 25-30
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1248154
Original Article

© 2005 Thieme Medical Publishers

Tissue Engineering for Meniscus Repair

Samuel B. Adams1  Jr , Mark A. Randolph2 , Thomas J. Gill3
  • 1The Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
  • 2The Laboratory for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
  • 3The Sports Medicine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 January 2010 (online)

ABSTRACT

Meniscus injury is common in today's active society. Despite the frequent presentation of meniscus injury, the decision to repair or resect a torn meniscus is not always straightforward. Current repair techniques are effective in the peripheral vascularized meniscus, but their success is not dependable in the avascularized zone. Tissue engineering, a discipline that combines the technologies of cell culture and biodegradable scaffolds to deliver a cellular repair, may be one future answer to this problem. The concept of using cell-based repair for torn menisci could improve healing of lesions in the avascular zone and broadly expand the indication for repair rather than removal, obviating the need for meniscectomy. This article reviews current advances in the relatively new field of tissue-engineering toward the development of a tissue-engineered meniscal repair technique.