Isolated meniscal allograft transplantation with suture-based fixation of a bone bridge: 15 cases with a 2-year minimum follow-up

doi:10.5312/wjo.v17.i3.114005

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World Journal of Orthopedics

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World J Orthop. Mar 18, 2026; 17(3): 114005
Published online Mar 18, 2026. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v17.i3.114005

Isolated meniscal allograft transplantation with suture-based fixation of a bone bridge: 15 cases with a 2-year minimum follow-up

Andrew Renshaw, Bhumit Desai, William Evans Few, Arjun Verma, Jonathan Willard, Brian Godshaw, Deryk Jones

Andrew Renshaw, Bhumit Desai, William Evans Few, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ochsner Health System, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States

Arjun Verma, Jonathan Willard, Brian Godshaw, Deryk Jones, Department of Sports Medicine, Ochsner Health System, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States

Brian Godshaw, Deryk Jones, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinical School, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States

Co-corresponding authors: William Evans Few and Jonathan Willard.

Author contributions: Renshaw A contributed to conceptualization, methodology, data curation, formal analysis, and writing of the original draft; Desai B contributed to methodology, data curation, investigation, and writing-review and editing; Few WE contributed to investigation, data curation, and writing-review and editing; Verma A contributed to data curation, visualization, and writing-review and editing; Willard J contributed to project administration, writing of the original draft, and writing-review and editing; Godshaw B contributed to supervision, validation, and writing-review and editing; Jones D contributed to conceptualization, supervision, resources, and writing-review and editing. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript. Willard J, request designation as a co-corresponding author because Few WE serve as the Research Fellow for our department and play a central role in supporting both the clinical and research teams. Few WE responsibilities include coordinating data collection, managing study documentation, communicating with the IRB, and organizing and assisting with manuscript preparation. Few WE have been directly involved in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timely completion of this project. Given these contributions and my role within the department, it is appropriate that Willard J be listed as a co-corresponding author.

Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Ochsner Clinic Foundation, No. 2021.126.

Clinical trial registration statement: This study does not meet the criteria for a clinical trial; therefore, trial registration was not required.

Informed consent statement: This study involved secondary research of existing data and was determined to be exempt from informed consent requirements by the Ochsner Clinic Foundation Institutional Review Board.

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, related to the subject matter of this manuscript.

CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 Statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 Statement.

Data sharing statement: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. Additional details are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Corresponding author: William Evans Few, MD, Researcher, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ochsner Health System, 1514 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, LA 70121, United States. william.few@ochsner.org

Received: September 9, 2025
Revised: October 3, 2025
Accepted: December 23, 2025
Published online: March 18, 2026
Processing time: 188 Days and 13.3 Hours

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Despite satisfactory results, controversy remains on whether meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) prevents or even slows the progression of cartilage degeneration in a previously meniscectomized compartment.

AIM

To evaluate patient reported outcomes at various time points in patients who underwent an isolated MAT using a bone-block technique with suture-based bony fixation.

METHODS

This case series includes seventeen patients with history of meniscectomy and corresponding compartmental knee pain that were treated with isolated MAT performed by a single orthopedic sports medicine surgeon. Patients were excluded if they did not have 2 years of follow up. Validated surveys specific to knee pain and function were utilized to compare patient-reported outcomes pre-operatively, 6 months, 1 year, and final follow-up.

RESULTS

Fifteen of 17 patients treated with MAT were evaluated at a minimum of 2 years (mean 4.7 years) of follow-up. Mean patient age was 22.2 ± 10.7 (14-56) years. There were 8 females (53%) and 7 males (47%) included in the statistical analysis. 13 patients had lateral transplants (87%) and 2 had medial transplants (13%). The reoperation rate was 13%; however, no patients required revision MAT or arthroplasty and graft survival was 100%. Average patient reported pain severity score, pain frequency score, and scores from 9 validated knee surveys were significantly improved at 6 months, 1 year, and final follow up compared to pre-operative baseline (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Despite some limitations, meniscus transplantation with suture-based bone bridge fixation resulted in reliable improvements in knee pain and function at a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. Our study demonstrated 100% graft survival with low complication rates (13.3%). Suture fixation of the transplanted bone block in MAT is a viable technique with excellent clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Meniscus allograft transplantation; Knee surgery; Patient-reported outcome measures; Suture-based fixation; Meniscus transplantation

Core Tip: Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) with suture-based bone bridge fixation provides reliable improvements in pain and knee function, with durable results at mid-term follow-up. Patients experienced significant improvements in multiple validated outcome measures, low complication rates, and 100% graft survival without need for revision MAT or arthroplasty. These findings support suture-based fixation as a safe and effective technique for isolated MAT in young, active patients with symptomatic meniscal deficiency after meniscectomy.