The long term effect of collagen meniscal implantation on the chondral surfaces within the knee

Introduction: The menisci are among the most operated on structures within the knee and have long plagued physicians regarding their treatment and their role of protecting the articular cartilage. New in the field for treatment of meniscal tears are collagen meniscal implants [CMI] that create a scaffold for regeneration of meniscal tissue. The purpose of the implant is to provide a structure to protect the articular cartilage and thus slow the progression to osteoarthritis in patients who have undergone a partial meniscectomy. Studies of the CMI have been completed and have illustrated positive results for 5 or more years following implantation. Methods: Sources and search engines that were utilized in the literature review were Pubmed, Medline, uptodate.com, and Access Medicine. Some of the search terms that were utilized were collagen meniscal implants, meniscectomy, and meniscal replacement. Articles with human subjects from 2005 through 2010 were included, older articles were included if the article was a pioneer study in the field. Results: Studies were found regarding CMI with long-term results of up to 10 years follow up. Positive results were generally seen regarding graft integrity and decreased pain felt by the patients. Many studies did not closely examine the long-term effect of the CMI on articular cartilage. Conclusions: Although current research regarding CMI is yielding positive results, more long-term research is needed to determine the effect of synthetic meniscal implantation on chondral surfaces within the knee.