This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Study reveals return-to-service rates after meniscal allograft transplantation in military population
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Although military patients who underwent meniscal allograft transplantation had low reoperation and revision rates at a short-term follow-up, 22% of patients were unable to return to military service because of persistent knee limitations, according to recently published results.
Using the Military Health System, researchers identified 227 military patients who underwent a total of 230 meniscal allograft transplantations (MATs). Mean patient age was 27.2 years, and 89% of patients were male. Investigators recorded both previous and concomitant surgeries, perioperative complications, reoperation and revision rates, and initial medical discharge for persistent knee disability.
Findings showed 51% of patients underwent previous, non-meniscal knee surgeries. Investigators noted that in 69% of cases, medial MATs were performed. The most common were isolated MATs. Fifty-one complications occurred in 46 patients. These complications included secondary tears or extrusions (9%).
According to researchers, 10 patients needed a secondary meniscal debridement. One patient needed revision MAT, and two patients needed total knee arthroplasty. The 13 patients who required these secondary procedures for graft issues had their procedures at a mean clinical follow-up of 2.14 years.
At 2.49-years postoperatively, 50 patients underwent knee-related discharge from the military. Significantly increased odds for failure were seen for tobacco users, while surgery performed by fellowship-trained surgeons showed a trend toward reduced chance for failure. Investigators found high-volume surgeons were linked with significantly reduced failure rates. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Waterman reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts