Meniscus Allograft Transplant Preparation
Performed by Kevin R. Stone, MD · 2014 · San Francisco, CA
Quick Facts
- Topic
- Graft Preparation
- Focus
- Sizing & Tissue Handling
- Audience
- Surgeons & Tissue Banks
Summary
Proper preparation of the meniscus allograft is critical to successful transplantation. This video covers tissue bank recommendations for graft sizing and surgical back-table preparation techniques.
Key Principles
Research has shown that height, weight, and gender correlate with meniscal dimensions, providing tissue banks and surgeons with simple, cost-effective variables for predicting appropriate graft size. The graft must be properly sized, bone plugs shaped, and sutures placed before implantation.
Transcript
This video demonstrates the preparation of meniscus allograft tissue for transplantation. The graft arrives from the tissue bank with bone blocks attached to the anterior and posterior horns.
The bone blocks are shaped to fit through the prepared tunnels—typically 8-10mm in diameter. Sutures are placed through the bone plugs and the body of the meniscus to allow passage through the tunnels and peripheral fixation.
Proper sizing is essential: an undersized graft will not adequately distribute load, while an oversized graft may extrude. Patient height, weight, and gender provide reliable sizing parameters.