A Meniscus is a curved piece of cartilage that helps provide shock absorption and stability in the knee joint. Each knee contains a medial (inner) and a lateral (outer) meniscus. A common orthopedic procedure is to remove small portions of the meniscus when torn. This does not usually compromise the joint. However, the removal of large portions of the meniscus can result in the joint being “bone on bone”. It often results in expedited deterioration of the joint. This is characterized by pain and progressive early arthritis.
If caught before the joint is too arthritic, it is possible to transplant a new meniscus into the joint. This is done by a handful of surgeons in each state because of its highly technical demands. The new meniscus is obtained from a tissue bank (cadaver donated from a young dead person) and can be transplanted in a same day surgery. No immunosuppressant medicines are required as in other organ transplants.
Successful Meniscus transplantation requires careful attention to all mechanical issues acting on the joint. Dr. Levy learned meniscal transplantation in 1993 in Belgium, subsequently performing the first in New Jersey in 1996. He is an invited member of the meniscal transplantation study group. While no synthetic replacement has held up to human clinical trials, Dr. Levy monitors worldwide progress in this area. Contact us if you think you are in need of a new meniscus.