Meniscal transplantation has become an attractive option in selected patients with incapacitating knee pain. This book discusses all aspects of meniscal transplantation, covering the use of both allografts and meniscal substitutes, including collagen and polyurethane implants. Acknowledged experts in the field review the basic science, explain indications, and describe surgical techniques and the results achieved to date. All the material is up to date, with information on new implants, new techniques, and new surgical approaches. Future trends in the treatment of meniscal lesions are also discussed as we move towards the application of regenerative strategies to restore meniscus function. "

The Meniscus The management of meniscus lesions is an unbelievable story of so-called scient- cally based, controversial treatment, covering a time span of more than 120 years, including: * The time when a locked knee was manipulated in order to reduce a bucket-handle or a fap tear back into place to restore motion. * The time when famous surgeons excised the meniscus in thousands of patients and kept the resected specimens as trophies in large glass jars. * The time of animated discussions on whether either partial meniscectomy, only removing the ruptured parts, should be performed or total meniscectomy, as ad- cated by Smillie, because some meniscus-shaped semilunar tissue regeneration had been shown by Mandic after complete removal. * The time when the next milestone was reached as Trillat introduced intramural resection, which preserved the circular stabilizing fbrous rim with its menis- ligamento-capsular attachments to the tibia and femur, to maintain more rotational knee stability. Prior to these mainstream meniscal resection treatments, pioneering work had been done by Thomas Annandale in 1883 and Moritz Katzenstein in 1908, who sutured the menisci back into place, with the latter achieving a series of good results. In 1921, Eugen Bircher was the frst to perform a diagnostic knee arthroscopy for internal knee derangement, just using a standard Jacobaeus laparoscope! Nowadays, the fundamental importance of the menisci to normal knee function, e.g., motion, load distribution, and rotational stabilization, is scientifcally acknowledged.