The meniscus plays a crucial role in joint stability and lubrication, capable of withstanding over two million steps per year. Our research has challenged conventional contraindications for meniscus replacement in arthritic knees.
Total Patients Studied
Allograft Survival
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The meniscus is a soft, fibrous cartilage resting between the femur and tibia. A healthy meniscus provides a gliding surface in the knee that is five times smoother than ice on ice. When damaged, the knee transmits force abnormally, leading to arthritis and pain.
Meniscal transplantation was previously indicated only for patients with mild arthritis, under 50 years of age. Our research demonstrates that meniscus allografts can successfully survive in arthritic knees, expanding treatment options for patients who would otherwise face joint replacement.
Our research has fundamentally challenged the conventional contraindications for meniscus allograft transplantation. Prior to this work, patients over 50 or those with significant arthrosis were typically excluded from consideration.
The 89.4% survival rate in arthritic knees—with 25% of patients over age 55—demonstrates that biologic joint reconstruction can be a viable alternative to arthroplasty for motivated patients seeking to maintain active lifestyles.
The sizing study has practical implications for tissue banks worldwide, establishing that simple anthropometric measurements (height, weight, gender) can predict meniscal dimensions, streamlining the donor-recipient matching process.
Active studies investigating new approaches to meniscus regeneration and transplantation.
See how meniscus transplantation has helped patients avoid joint replacement.
48-year-old endurance athlete discusses multiple meniscus surgeries and biologic knee replacement.
Alaska ski instructor John Lyman discusses his experience with Mako robotic surgery.
Surgical technique for medial meniscus allograft transplantation.
View Full DetailsStep-by-step lateral meniscus allograft transplantation technique.
View Full DetailsDr. Kevin R. Stone
Meniscus transplantation has completely changed our perception of knee arthritis and how to treat it. In the past when a person would get arthritis, there would be wearing away of the articular cartilage. Very commonly that occurs when an athlete has torn their meniscus and a surgeon removed part of it. Over the years, the patient wears away the articular cartilage. Now we can replace that meniscus and prevent the progression to severe arthritis.
Showing 7 of 7 studies
Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach
Research Question: How can meniscus allograft fixation be improved?
An improved arthroscopic technique of meniscal transplantation that simplifies the surgical procedure and secures the allograft to the tibia at 3 sites.
Key Finding: Improved arthroscopic technique securing allograft to tibia at 3 sites.
Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Thomas J. Turek, Abhi Freyer, Martin D. Hill
Research Question: Should patients with arthritis be excluded from meniscus transplantation?
Meniscus allografts can survive in a joint with arthrosis, challenging the contraindications of age and arthrosis severity.
Key Finding: 89.4% allograft survival rate in arthritic knees—challenging conventional contraindications of age and arthrosis.
Kevin R. Stone, Abhi Freyer, Thomas J. Turek, Ann W. Walgenbach, Sonali Wadhwa, John V. Crues III
Research Question: How can surgeons accurately match meniscus allografts to patients?
Height, weight, and gender should be considered by both tissue banks and surgeons as fast and cost-effective variables by which to predict meniscal dimensions.
Key Finding: Height, weight, and gender correlate with meniscal dimensions—simplifying tissue bank matching protocols.
Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Abhi Freyer
Research Question: Can meniscus transplants succeed in knees that already have arthritis?
Meniscus transplantation is a rewarding soft tissue reconstruction that can be useful for arthritic as well as pristine knees to alleviate pain, restore function, and ultimately, delay or avoid joint arthroplasty.
Key Finding: Comprehensive review demonstrating allografts can survive in arthritic knees and delay joint replacement.
Kevin R. Stone, Johnathan R. Pelsis, Wendy S. Adelson, Ann W. Walgenbach
Research Question: Is it possible to rebuild meniscus cartilage that has been lost?
Meniscus reconstruction techniques offer new possibilities for rebuilding meniscus cartilage in patients who have lost this critical structure.
Key Finding: Meniscus reconstruction represents a new paradigm for rebuilding damaged meniscus cartilage.
Kevin R. Stone, Wendy S. Adelson, Johnathan R. Pelsis, Ann W. Walgenbach, Thomas J. Turek
Research Question: Can meniscus transplant and cartilage repair be performed together successfully?
Combined meniscus allograft transplantation with articular cartilage repair procedures demonstrates excellent long-term survival and functional outcomes.
Key Finding: Concurrent meniscus allograft transplantation and articular cartilage repair provides long-term joint preservation.
Kevin R. Stone, Ann W. Walgenbach, Shadera Slatter, Thomas J. Turek, Caroline Ferguson-Dryden, Marie Dicker, Emma Miltenberger, Haley Cowles, Vivian Liu, Stephanie Wu, Mani Vessal
Research Question: Can meniscus allograft transplantation delay or prevent knee replacement in older patients?
Meniscus allograft transplantation in conjunction with biologic knee restoration procedures can effectively delay or prevent the need for total knee arthroplasty in patients older than 50 years.
Key Finding: Meniscus allograft transplantation with biologic knee restoration delays arthroplasty in patients over 50 years old.
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