Abstract
Purpose: to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the polyurethane meniscal scaffold through
clinical examination, MRI and arthroscopic second look, over a minimum two-year follow-up.
Methods: between 2009 and 2011, 19 patients underwent meniscal scaffold implantation in our
department (medial meniscus in 16 cases lateral meniscus in two cases, and bilateral
in one case). All the patients were clinically evaluated preoperatively, and at 6,
12, and 24 months after surgery using Lysholm score, Tegner score, and VAS. Ten patients
were studied with MRI, and nine patients were evaluated arthroscopically.
Results: no adverse reactions to the implant were observed. The clinical scores showed a significant
improvement at 6 months and increased progressively over time. On MRI studies, the
implants showed a clear hyperintense signal, sometimes irregular, and the chondral
surface was preserved in all cases. At arthroscopic second look in the first months
after surgery, the scaffold size was unchanged and the scaffold appeared light yellowish
in color and well integrated into the surrounding tissues. At arthroscopic second
look at 12 and 24 months the scaffold was found to have an irregular morphology and
to be slightly reduced in size.
Conclusions: polyurethane meniscal scaffold is a good alternative to a collagen scaffold, but
a longer follow-up is needed to evaluate the scaffold degradation and chondral coverage.
Level of Evidence: level IV, therapeutic case series.
Key Words
meniscus - polyurethane - replacement - scaffold - tear
