The condition
The menisci are C-shaped cushions that protect the knee's cartilage. After a meniscus has been removed or badly damaged, that side of the knee can become painful and swollen, and the cartilage wears faster. A transplant may help younger, active patients with a well-aligned, stable knee.
The surgery
A size-matched cadaver meniscus (allograft) is placed through small incisions with a camera plus a small extra incision, and secured with sutures and/or small bone blocks (typically outpatient). Alignment, ligament, or cartilage procedures may be done at the same time or beforehand. The final plan is determined during surgery.
Recovery at a glance
- Weight-bearing
- Crutches and a brace locked straight: touch-down weight for ~4 weeks, half weight at ~4–6 weeks, and full weight by ~8 weeks.
- Motion
- Bending to 90° for 4 weeks; full motion by 12 weeks. No deep squatting or kneeling for 6 months.
- Daily life
- Desk work often within 2 weeks. No driving while taking narcotic pain medication.
- Running
- Jogging only after clearance, typically at ~6 months.
- Sports
- Cutting and pivoting sports are an individual decision, not before 8–9 months; full release typically 9–12 months.
A general guide. Your restrictions and timeline may change based on what is found and done at surgery.
Risks & benefits
Benefits: Most patients have less pain and better function. Risks are uncommon and include infection, blood clots, the graft tearing, shrinking, or not healing, progression of arthritis, an extremely small risk of disease transmission from donor tissue, injury to nearby structures (such as nerves, blood vessels, or cartilage), stiffness, persistent pain, and the need for further surgery. These will be reviewed with you in detail before surgery.
Patient Surgical Information
Open, save or print. Bring your questions to your pre-op visit.
Before & after every surgery