Evaluation of Clinical-functional and Radiographic Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Meniscal Allograft Transplantation (MAT) at 10 Years.
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Meniscus Disorder, Arthritis Knee. Basic parameters: 18 years — 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Italy
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
Menisci are crescent-shaped cartilage structures that are fundamentally important for the biomechanics and physiology of the knee joint. They play a primary role in load transmission, assist the ligaments in ensuring knee stability, and thus protect against the onset of knee osteoarthritis. Meniscal injuries are the most frequently encountered joint pathology and can cause pain, mechanical blocks, and recurrent effusions. The treatment of these injuries has progressively evolved from meniscectomy (removal of damaged meniscal tissue) to the use of meniscal sutures (where possible) to allow the preservation of the greatest amount of meniscus: numerous studies have shown a correlation between the amount of meniscus removed and the future onset of osteoarthritis (Hutchinson AJSM 2014, Harston KSSTA 2012). However, in some cases, especially in the presence of complex and/or chronic lesions, meniscectomy remains the only viable surgical solution even today. Over time, months or years later, a subgroup of patients experiences symptoms such as pain, joint swelling, and mechanical overload of the compartment subjected to meniscectomy, a condition known as "post-meniscectomy syndrome." Some of these patients will subsequently develop knee osteoarthritis, requiring invasive interventions such as partial or total knee replacement. Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) represents a valid therapeutic option for post-meniscectomy syndrome. This procedure aims to restore joint functionality and stability through the transplantation of a meniscus from a cadaver donor. MAT has been widely adopted in clinical practice, showing success in reducing pain and improving joint functionality. Current studies suggest that meniscal transplantation can offer significant protection against osteoarthritis, but the duration of this preventive effect is not yet fully understood. Furthermore, there are no studies that can demonstrate the state of osteoarthritis with radiographic controls pre- and post-treatment at a follow-up of over 10 years.
Primary outcome measures
- Lysholm Knee Score [Time frame: 10 years]
- Kellgren-Lawrence scale [Time frame: 10 years]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- VAS [Time frame: 10 years]
- Tegner Score [Time frame: 10 years]
- KOOS score [Time frame: 10 years]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Patients aged between 18 and 65 at the time of surgery
- Both male and female
- Patients who underwent meniscal transplantation at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute at least 10 years ago
Exclusion criteria
- Patients who do not give consent to be included in the study
- Patients who are no longer reachable
- Presence of infection or hematologic, rheumatic, or coagulation disorders at the time of evaluation
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Italy · 1 center
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli — Bologna
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06522152 · MAT 10 Y