Meniscus Subluxation Retensioning: "Autotransplant" / Meniscal Retention
João Espregueira-Mendes, Renato Andrade, Luís Silva, Bruno Pereira,
Nuno Sevivas, Ricardo Bastos
A Dragon Clinic - Espregueira-Mendes Sports Centre - FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence is an international reference center in the treatment of meniscal and cartilage injuries, being a center of excellence of the ICRS - International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society In order to provide better and more advanced treatment in the area of cartilage injuries, we have developed a new technique that consists in meniscal retensioning to create a kind of "Autotransplant" that will return the extruded meniscus to its anatomical position.
What did the study consist of?
The study consisted in describing a new surgical technique for the treatment of osteoarthritis knee associated with meniscal extrusion with the objective of reestablishing and centering the anatomic meniscal position through a meniscal retensioning thus ensuring its physiological functions in preserving the degeneration of the articular cartilage.
Why this technique?
- A meniscal extrusion (when the peripheral portion of the meniscus extends beyond the margin of the tibia) results in changes in the normal biomechanics of the knee and loss of the functions that the meniscus performs in absorbing and redistributing forces in the knee, potentially leading to the onset and progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.
- This technique of meniscal retensioning allows the meniscus to be centered and repositioned in its anatomical position, which will allow it to reestablish its functions in maintaining the homeostasis of the knee.
What are the advantages of this technique?
- The procedure can be considered as a meniscal "autotransplantation", reestablishing the native biomechanical and physiological functions of the meniscus.
- The procedure for meniscal retensioning is minimally invasive and can relieve pain symptoms and prevent the progression of osteoarthritis.
- It postpones the need for partial or total knee replacement.
- The surgery can easily be used concomitantly with other surgical procedures (such as tibial or femoral realignment osteotomies, ligament reconstructions, or cartilage procedures).
- It restores meniscal coverage, decreases contact with cartilage or subchondral bone, and restores joint space in the affected femorotibial compartment.
We invite our readers who wish to deepen their knowledge about the treatment of osteoarticular lesions to attend the VI Atlantic Health Conference Which will take place on November 15 and 16, 2019. We will have a table dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cartilage lesions. You can check the program here.
If you are having knee joint problems you can call 220 100 100 to make an appointment with our specialists at Knee Unit of Clínica Espregueira!