Arthroscopic Technique Without Plugs

Abstract

Arthroscopic meniscus transplantation has traditionally been performed using a meniscal allograft with attached bone plugs on the anterior and posterior horns, which are anchored into the tibial plateau through an anterior and posterior tunnel. The insertion of these bone plugs through an arthroscopic approach is, however, technically demanding and sometimes even impossible. In this chapter, we report our technique of arthroscopic meniscal allograft transplantation without bone plugs, using a conventional arthroscopic set up and standard knee arthroscopy instruments, through standard arthroscopic knee portals. We believe that our technique is not only technically much easier, but it is also much faster and has led to excellent results in a group of 51 patients with a follow-up ranging from 2 to 7 years.