2017 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #1309

 

Is Sport Activity Possible after Arthroscopic Meniscal Allograft Transplantation? Mid-Term Results of Active Patients

Stefano Zaffagnini, MD, Prof., Bologna ITALY
Giulio Maria Marcheggiani Muccioli, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Bologna ITALY
Alberto Grassi, PhD, Bologna ITALY
Maria P. Neri, Bologna ITALY
Alice Bondi, MD, Bologna ITALY
Giuseppe Carbone, MD, Bologna ITALY
Tommaso Roberti di Sarsina, MD, Bologna ITALY
Federico Raggi, MD, Bologna ITALY
Maurilio Marcacci, MD, Milano, Milano ITALY

Istituto Otopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, BO, ITALY

FDA Status Cleared

Summary

The arthroscopic MAT with bone plug free graft was able to improve knee function, reduce pain and allow sport resumption and return to the same pre-injury level in 74% and 49% of patients respectively at mid-term follow-up.

Abstract

Introduction

Meniscal Allograft Transplantation (MAT) have been proved to produce good to excellent results in general population; however, populations of athletes and sport-related outcomes have been rarely investigated.
The purpose of this study is to report the mid-term clinical outcomes and return to sport rate after MAT in a physically active population.

Methods

All the physically active patients that underwent arthroscopic MAT without bone plugs with 2-year minimum follow-up were included in this retrospective study. Clinical evaluation was performed with KOOS score, Tegner Activity Scale and 0-100 subjective scale for knee function and satisfaction. Ability and time to return to sport, level of sport activity compared to pre injury level, reasons for sport abandon or level decrease were evaluated. Patients that returned or abandoned sport, and patents that returned to same or decreased level were compared. Regression analysis was performed in order to enlight the variables affecting the final outcomes.

Results

Eighty-nine patients with a mean age at surgery of 38.5 ± 11.2 years were evaluated to a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 1.9. Total KOOS and all its subscales improved from pre-operative status to final follow-up (p<0.05). Tegner also improved significantly (p<0.0001), however without reaching the pre-injury status (p<0.0001). Older age at surgery was correlated to worst clinical results. Sixty-six patient (74%) were able to return to sport after 8.6 ± 4.1 months. Forty-four (49%) returned to the same pre-injury level. Patients that abandoned sport activity and those that reduced the activity level presented inferior subjective outcomes compared to those who returned to sport and return to pre-injury level respectively. Only 11 patients (12%) underwent a surgical procedure during the considered follow-up.

Conclusions

The arthroscopic MAT with bone plug free graft was able to improve knee function, reduce pain and allow sport resumption and return to the same pre-injury level in 74% and 49% of patients respectively at mid-term follow-up. Between all the demographical and surgical variables, only age at surgery seemed to affect the final outcomes, while at final follow-up the ability to perform sport activity and its level were good indicators of knee function and overall satisfaction.