Meniscal Allograft Transplantation and Clinical Outcomes
Summary
Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has become a key surgical strategy to restore knee joint integrity and function following meniscectomy. By implanting donor meniscal tissue into meniscus-deficient compartments, MAT aims to re-establish load distribution, shock absorption and joint stability, thereby alleviating pain and delaying cartilage degeneration. Clinical outcomes are shaped by patient selection—particularly age and cartilage status—graft preservation method, surgical technique and the presence of concomitant procedures such as anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or osteotomy. Mid- to long-term follow-up demonstrates consistent improvements in pain relief, functional scores and patient satisfaction, although graft survival rates vary and reoperation remains relatively common. Innovations including partial allograft transplantation and combined biologic reconstructions are refining indications and enhancing tissue integration, with the ultimate goal of maintaining native joint architecture and function.
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Meniscal Allograft Transplantation and Clinical Outcomes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in meniscal allograft transplantation and clinical outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT): Surgical implantation of donor meniscal tissue to replace a removed or deficient native meniscus, aiming to restore load transmission and joint stability.
Meniscal scaffold implantation (MSI): Insertion of a biodegradable or synthetic support structure into a meniscal defect to encourage endogenous tissue ingrowth and regeneration.
Partial meniscal allograft transplantation (PMAT): Transplantation of a customised donor meniscal segment to replace only the resected portion of the native meniscus, preserving remaining healthy tissue.
Lysholm score: A validated patient-reported measure assessing knee symptoms, stability and functional limitations in daily activities.
Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): Standardised questionnaires completed by patients to evaluate symptoms, physical function and quality of life following interventions.
References
- Acceptable clinical outcomes despite high reoperation rate at minimum 12-month follow-up after concomitant arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and medial meniscal allograft transplantation. Knee Surgery & Related Research (2023).
- Outcome comparison of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) and meniscal scaffold implantation (MSI): a systematic review. International Journal of Surgery (2024).
- Study on feasibility of the partial meniscal allograft transplantation. Clinical and Translational Medicine (2022).
- Biological Knee Reconstruction With Concomitant Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation and Meniscal Allograft Transplantation. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine (2016).
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