Meniscal Scaffold Implantation and Clinical Outcomes

Meniscal scaffold implantation represents a therapeutic approach for patients who have undergone partial or total meniscectomy in which a bioengineered construct is implanted to restore the meniscal function within the knee joint. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure essential to load distribution, shock absorption, joint stability and lubrication. Loss of meniscal tissue due to injury or degenerative change accelerates cartilage wear and predisposes to osteoarthritis. Meniscal scaffolds may be collagen-based, synthetic or biological allografts, designed to support cellular infiltration, vascularisation and extracellular matrix deposition while gradually resorbing or integrating with host tissue. Clinical outcomes have emphasised improvements in pain, function and patient-reported scores in the short to mid-term, although failure rates and durability vary among scaffold types. Key factors influencing success include surgical technique, patient selection, concomitant procedures and scaffold biocompatibility. Long-term data remain limited, but emerging evidence suggests that optimising fixation methods, refining scaffold materials and defining clear indications will enhance the potential chondroprotective effects of meniscal replacement. The global significance of this field lies in delaying or preventing osteoarthritis, reducing the burden of joint replacement and improving quality of life for active and younger patients.

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Meniscal Scaffold Implantation and Clinical Outcomes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in meniscal scaffold implantation and clinical outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Meniscal scaffold: A bioengineered implant designed to replace or support damaged meniscal tissue, promoting regeneration and load distribution.

Partial meniscectomy: Surgical removal of a segment of the torn or degenerated meniscus, often used to relieve pain and mechanical symptoms.

Chondroprotective: Describes an intervention or material that helps preserve articular cartilage and delay degenerative changes.

Umbrella review: A synthesis of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses, providing a high-level overview of evidence on a given topic.

References

1. The Current State of Meniscus Replacements. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine (2024).
2. Implantation of Novel Meniscus Scaffold for Irreparable Meniscal Tear. Arthroscopy Techniques (2022).
3. Addressing meniscal deficiency part 2: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses on meniscal scaffold‐based approaches. Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics (2024).