Meniscal Allograft Transplants in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Systematic Review of Indications and Outcomes

Abstract

Meniscal lesions in skeletally immature patients can lead to joint degradation and knee instability. Meniscal allograft transplant (MAT) surgery is a solution to maintain knee stability. There is a lack of consensus on MAT surgery outcomes in pediatric patients. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus and EMBASE databases were searched from 1965 to June 2022. Studies were evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Three studies were selected, and 58 patients were included (mean age 15.9 years) in total. The lateral meniscus was involved in 82.8% of all MAT surgeries. Post-meniscectomy syndrome and discoid meniscus were the main indications for MAT surgery. All studies reported improved subjective clinical scores and levels of sport after the surgery. The complication rate was 27.5%. Partial meniscectomy, meniscus knot removal, chondral defect treatment and lysis of adhesions were the most frequent procedures performed during reoperation. MAT surgery can improve clinical outcomes in pediatric patients with strictly selected indications. MAT surgery is safe when there are no limb asymmetries or malalignments, but it remains a challenging procedure with a high complication rate. Long-term follow-up is needed for definitive statements on the use of MAT in skeletally immature patients.