MENISCUS REPLACEMENT WITH BONE ANCHORS - A SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Human meniscal replacement with allograft is a new and promising procedure. Heretofore the procedure has required an extensive arthrotomy with direct suture implantation. A surgical technique using a minimally invasive, arthroscopically assisted approach to implantation of the allograft meniscus with attached bone anchors has been developed. Technique development followed extensive review and participation in the open implantation technique, along with cadaveric refinement of the proposed arthroscopic technique. The presented technique includes preparation of the meniscus with attached bone anchors, preparation of the peripheral rim bed, drilling of tibial tunnels for bone anchor placement, passage of the meniscus and bone anchors into the recipient site without detachment of collateral ligaments, securing the bone anchors in the appropriate bony tunnel, and peripheral suturing of the implanted meniscus.