• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 1999

The current treatment of extensive meniscal injuries has resulted in numerous investigations and clinical trials to restore normal meniscal functions. A cryopreserved meniscal allograft transplantation is one of the successful methods available to restore the meniscus. All the procedures of 26 cases were performed in an minimal open fashion, though initial four cases were done with the aid of arthroscope. In all of the grafts, we used a bone bridge which was attached to meniscus for better stability and healing. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions were also performed simultaneously with the meniscal procedures. We attempted to minimize articular cartilage by employing so called the "Key-hole technique" for the medial meniscus transplantation. First, the meniscal cartilage bone bridge was shaped into a cylinder and a bone tunnel was made just beside the medial border of the anterior criciate ligament insertion of the recipient knee joint, and the bone bridge of the meniscal cartilage was push to press-fit. The inserted meniscal cartilage was sutured by the usually employed technique under arthroscopic control. The lateral meniscus was shaped different to the medial meniscus in that the bone bridge was semicylindrical and the bone trough was made beside the lateral border of the anterior criciate ligament insertion of the recipient knee joint. The meniscus was put into the bone trough and the leading suture was extracted anterior to the tibia and tied the knot. The inserted meniscus was sutured in the same manner as the medial meniscus transplantation. By the above described method, the authors were able to minimize the articular cartilage invasion and transplant the meniscus with relative accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2003

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the arthroscopic findings of the transplanted human allogenic meniscus including MRI changes at follow up. Materials and Methods : From Oct. 1999 to Jun. 2002, nine patients underwent arthroscopic evaluation at follow-up. We used nonirradiated cryopreserved meniscus allograft for 6 cases and fresh-frozen for 3 cases. We used bone-plug method for medial meniscus and bone-bridge method for lateral meniscus to fix the transplanted meniscus. The average follow-up time was 13 months. We evaluated the result by lysholm score, MRI and second-look arthroscopic finding. Results : The second-look arthroscopy after allogenic meniscal transplantation revealed that grafts were well incorporated with surrounding capsular tissue. But one case showed wear on the post horn and the other case which was operated at other local clinic showed tear of the anterior hem due to non-anatomic placement of bone bridge. There was improvement of average Lysholm score form 64 to 87. Conclusion : Second-look arthroscopy revealed excellent incorporation of the allograft with firm attachment and early clinical results are satisfactory. But further studies are necessary to assess whether meniscal transplantation can prevent progressive degenerative changes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.127-128
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• 2008