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Arthroscopic implantation of meniscal allografts aid return to play in professional soccer players
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AMSTERDAM — Arthroscopic implantation of fresh frozen non-irradiated meniscal allografts from young donors in 12 professional soccer players with subtotal meniscectomy resulted in a 92% rate of return to soccer play and a 67% rate of return to play as a professional, according to a study presented here.
“In conclusion, 75% of patients returned to play soccer as professionals at 3 years,” Giulio Marcheggiani Muccioli, MD, of Bologna, Italy, said at the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery & Arthroscopy Congress.
The procedures were performed arthroscopically without bone plugs via a technique developed in Bologna and proven effective in other groups of patients, he said. The patients had an average age of 24 years.
Giulio Marcheggiani Muccioli
The investigators evaluated the athletes’ results at 12 months and 36 months and used the Tegner, Lysholm, subjective and objective International Knee Documentation Committee, WOMAC and VAS pain scores. While all those scores improved significantly at 12 months, any improvements in them between 12 months and 36 months follow-up were not statistically significant, based on the findings Marcheggiani and colleagues reported.
“Our patients experienced a very good pain reduction maintained over 3 years and improvement in function," Marcheggiani said.
The rehabilitation program used for all the patients involved 30 days of bracing and non-weightbearing, after which they were permitted to walk. At 10 days after implantation, the use of continuous passive motion began as part of the rehabilitation process, he said.
One patient in the study who underwent the procedure did not comply with the prescribed rehabilitation and developed a knee infection as a result, according to Marcheggiani. Arthroscopic debridement to treat the patient was successful, however, the athlete did not resume playing soccer.
In the study, the average return to training was 7.5 months and the mean return to match was 10.5 months. – by Susan M. Rapp
Reference:
Marcheggiani Muccioli G. Paper #FP03-1505. Presented at: European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Congress; May 14-17, 2014; Amsterdam.
Disclosure: Marcheggiani has no relevant financial disclosures.