APEX Knee Navigating Pearls and Pitfalls-Biologic Augmentation of Meniscus Repairs: Current Options and What is the Evidence?

Biologic Augmentation of Meniscus Repairs: Current Options and What is the Evidence?

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Andrea Spiker from the University of Wisconsin discusses the current options and evidence for biological augmentation of meniscus repairs. The meniscus is important for knee load transmission, stability, and shock absorption. Tears in the meniscus are common, especially in males aged 20-29. The red-red zones of the meniscus have better healing potential due to good vascularity, while the avascular zones have poor healing potential. Surgical options for meniscus tears include meniscectomy, repair, or replacement. Biological augmentation aims to promote healing in the avascular zones. Various methods, such as synovial rasping, needle traffination, bone marrow stimulation, external fibrin clot, PRP injection, stem cell administration, and biomaterial augmentation, have shown promising but limited results. More evidence is needed to determine the most effective method of biologic augmentation for meniscus repairs.

Asset Caption

Dr. Andrea Spiker

Keywords

meniscus repair

biological augmentation

knee injuries

PRP injection

stem cell therapy