Review of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Focusing

in the meniscus-deficient knee with the aid of advanced arthroscopic equipment, instruments, and techniques8-11). The ideal long-term result of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) is delay of articular cartilage degeneration, which is still to be proven by substantial evidence12,13). Although some animal model studies have shown that MAT can restore chondroprotective function of the meniscus to a certain level14,15), the transplanted menisci failed to provide complete restoration of the functions of the original meniscus. In most studies of the early MAT cases, significant degeneration, deformation, and tear, and structural changes of the transplant were observed during the remodeling process16-18). However, MAT is considered as one of the effective alternative options for symptomatic meniscectomized knees because there are few viable treatment strategies in these patients. Although there are a number of research and literature on MAT, it is not easy to assess their outcomes due to the small number of subjects, various meniscus preservation techniques, operative methods, and indications, various concomitant procedures including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, high tibial osteotomy (HTO), and cartilage repairing procedures, in addition to the absence of established evaluation methods. Th