Outcome after partial medial meniscus substitution with the collagen meniscal implant at a minimum of 10 years' follow-up.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of a collagen meniscus graft implanted in an injured medial meniscus after a minimum of 10 years' follow-up.

Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent arthroscopic implantation of the collagen meniscus device. They had either persistent compartmental joint line pain due to a previous medial meniscus resection (5 cases) or a large irreparable meniscus tear at arthroscopy (20 cases). Implant failure was defined as infection due to the implant or mechanical failure of the device. Twenty-two patients returned for clinical, functional, and radiographic evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging was also performed and was analyzed with the criteria of Genovese et al. (where type 3 indicates normal and type 1 indicates completely abnormal). All the aforementioned evaluations were carried out at a minimum of 10 years (range, 10.1 to 12.5 years) after the procedure.

Results: The mean Lysholm score improved from 59.9 preoperatively to 89.6 at 1 year (P < .001), and it was 87.5 at final follow-up (P < .001). The results were good or excellent in 83% of the population. No differences were observed when we compared the Lysholm score at 1 year of follow-up with the score at final follow-up (P > .05). The mean pain score on a visual analog scale improved by 3.5 points at final follow-up. Patient satisfaction with the procedure was 3.4 of 4 points. Radiographic evaluation showed either minimal or no narrowing of the joint line. Magnetic resonance imaging showed type 2 in 64% of cases and type 3 in 21%. All cases showed less volume than expected (size type 2 in 89%). The failure rate in the patient population was 8% (2 of 25). There were no complications related to the device.

Conclusions: Although there were several different types of patients and acute and chronic tears were treated in a limited number of patients, meniscal substitution with the collagen meniscal implant provides significant pain relief and functional improvement after a minimum of 10 years' follow-up. The implant generally diminished in size, but the procedure proved to be safe and had a low rate of implant failure on a long-term basis. No development or progression of degenerative knee joint disease was observed in most cases.

Level Of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.