Meniscus Transplantation FAQ

What is Meniscus Transplantation?
The meniscus is the soft, fibrous shock absorber that rests in the knee between the femur and the tibia. When it is removed or worn-out, pain and arthritis can develop. Meniscus transplantation involves taking a meniscus from a cadaver (someone who is recently deceased, otherwise known as "allograft" tissue) and transplanting it to the patient, sort of like changing shock absorbers in a car. The meniscus is tested for contamination, and is then frozen. If the contamination-test results are clean, the tissue is provided to surgeons for meniscus transplantation. The technique involves an arthroscopic (minimum incision - microscopic surgery ) procedure. Stone.Arthroscopy.3Tunnel.2003.pdf

Who can benefit from Meniscus Transplantation?
Patients with joint pain are the most common candidates. In older patients, we replace the meniscus to diminish pain, and to delay the time before a partial or complete joint replacement is required. In younger patients who have lost the cartilage (usually due to sports or traumatic injuries to the knee), we replace the meniscus to protect the joint for the future.

What are the success rates of Meniscus Transplantation?
Success rates are highest in the youngest patients with the healthiest joints. However, pain can also be diminished in older patients, even those with severe arthritis. Exact survival data for our patients with the meniscus transplants has been published here.

What are the potential complications of Meniscus Transplantation?
The most common problem has been partial re-tearing of the transplanted meniscus, which has required surgical repair (suturing), and rarely, a complete replacement. Rejection of the meniscus has not been seen in our patients, and is only reported worldwide in a few cases.

Can infection from the Meniscus Allograft occur?
Despite comprehensive contamination testing performed prior to transplantation, a rare virus or bacteria could potentially survive. We additionally sterilize our grafts with alcohol at the time of surgery.

How do I find out if I am a candidate for this procedure?
Contact The Stone Clinic to evaluate your X-rays and MRI films, and perhaps conduct a clinical exam to properly advise you.

General information about The Stone Clinic:
To make an appointment, please email us or call (415) 563-3110. For patients who are unable to visit the clinic due to geographic or transportation limitations, we offer phone consultations to help the patient with information and to guide their care. Please note that nothing replaces a direct, hands-on clinical evaluation, but we provide this service to help guide a patient’s treatment plan. In order for Dr. Stone to reasonably assess your situation, we would like to see the information included on the Outside Consultation Form. The more information you can provide, the more accurate your consultation will be. Feel free to contact The Stone Clinic staff at (415) 563-3110, or email us in order to schedule an outside consultation.

In general, patients who come from abroad or from long distances are seen in our office on Monday where an exam and scans are obtained. If surgery is necessary, it is performed on Tuesday or Wednesday with the patient staying in their hotel, and return to home generally in a few days or the following Monday. Longer stays for in-depth rehabilitation exercises and training are also available. Housing, transportation, nursing, rehabilitation, and other arrangements can be made through our office if desired.

For knee patients, standing X-rays (AP, Lateral, PA flexion view, and skyline) are required; plus recent high-quality MRI with special sequences; and an exam by the physician, to give you the best advice. For ankles and shoulders, high quality X-rays and MRI are very helpful. For the most accurate assessment and patient benefit, images should be obtained using our methods.

We do not participate in any discounted insurance plans. A deposit and payment at time of service is required, however; we will provide you with a detailed invoice to submit to your insurance company for full or partial reimbursement. For more information on insurance and meniscus allograft replacement, click here [link to reimbursement page from line item #4]. You may also email the billing department for any additional billing questions and for appointments.