Meniscal allograft

Illustration of the meniscus area at the top of the tibia, showing the prepared bone-plugs being slotted into the recipient area. — Meniscal allograft using bone plugs to secure the graft.

Illustration of a donor meniscus secured on a donor bone bridge. — Meniscal allograft using a tongue-and-groove method of securing the graft with a bone bar.

Where does a meniscal allograft come from?

In a meniscal allograft the meniscus is usually taken ('harvested') from a cadaver donor, processed in a tissue bank to make it safe, and then inserted into living recipient, where it replaces their own meniscus.

"...There are three main fixation methods that can be used to fix a MAT: suture-only fixation, double plug fixation and the keyhole technique. All fixation methods have similar outcomes..."

Francisco Figueroa et al

Nowadays the donor meniscus is often harvested still attached to a piece of donor bone. This is then slid into a recess made into the recipient's bone so that only the outer edges need to be sutured into place.

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Who is most likely to benefit from a meniscal allograft?

"...the general expert opinion is still that it is a procedure that should be reserved for symptomatic meniscal loss..."