J Knee Surg 2009; 22(3): 180-186
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247746
Original Article

© 2009 Thieme Medical Publishers

Potential Market for New Meniscus Repair Strategies – Evaluation of the MOON Cohort

Gary B. Fetzer1 , Kurt P. Spindler2 , Annunziato Amendola3 , Jack T. Andrish4 , John A. Bergfeld4 , Warren R. Dunn2 , David C. Flanigan5 , Morgan Jones4 , Christopher C. Kaeding5 , Robert G. Marx7 , Matthew J. Matava6 , Eric C. McCarty8 , Richard D. Parker4 , Michelle Wolcott8 , Armando Vidal8 , Brian R. Wolf3 , Rick W. Wright6
  • 1The TRIA Orthopaedic Center, Minneapolis, Minn
  • 2The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn
  • 3The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa School of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
  • 4The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
  • 5The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
  • 6The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, Mo
  • 7The Sports Medicine Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY
  • 8The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colo
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 January 2010 (online)

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to determine the incidence of meniscal tears and describe the tear morphology and selected treatment in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. We also will discuss the potential market for future tissue engineering aimed at preserving meniscal function. A multicenter cohort of 1014 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction between January 2002 and December 2003 was evaluated. Data on patient demographics, presence of a meniscus tear at time of ACL reconstruction, tear morphology, and meniscal treatment were collected prospectively. Meniscal tears were categorized into 3 potential tissue engineering treatment strategies: all-biologic repair, advanced repair, and scaffold replacement. Of the knees, 36% had medial meniscal tears and 44% had lateral meniscal tears. Longitudinal tears were the most common tear morphology. The most frequent treatment method was partial meniscectomy. Thirty percent of medial meniscal tears and 10% of lateral meniscal tears are eligible for all-biologic repair; 35% of medial meniscal tears and 35% of lateral meniscal tears are eligible for an advanced repair technique; and 35% of medial meniscal tears and 55% of lateral meniscal tears are eligible for scaffold replacement. Although meniscal preservation is generally accepted in the treatment of meniscal tears, most tears in this cohort were not repairable, despite contemporary methods. The results of this cohort will hopefully stimulate and focus future research and development of new tissue engineering strategies for meniscus repair.