MENISCAL REPLACEMENT USING A POROUS POLYMER PROSTHESIS - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY IN THE DOG

A porous polyurethane prosthesis was used to replace the lateral menis cus in the dog. After an initial ingrowth of fibrous tissue, the prost heses became filled with tissue strongly resembling normal meniscal fi brocartilage. Although less severe than seen after total meniscectomy, cartilage degeneration was frequent, possibly because tissue ingrowth in the prostheses occurred too slowly. Porous polymers can be useful for replacement of the meniscus, provided that chemical and physical p roperties are optimized. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.