MENISCUS REPLACEMENT WITH BONE ANCHORS - A SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Human meniscal replacement with allograft is a new and promising proce dure. Heretofore the procedure has required an extensive arthrotomy wi th direct suture implantation. A surgical technique using a minimally invasive, arthroscopically assisted approach to implantation of the al lograft meniscus with attached bone anchors has been developed. Techni que development followed extensive review and participation in the ope n implantation technique, along with cadaveric refinement of the propo sed arthroscopic technique. The presented technique includes preparati on of the meniscus with attached bone anchors, preparation of the peri pheral rim bed, drilling of tibial tunnels for bone anchor placement, passage of the meniscus and bone anchors into the recipient site witho ut detachment of collateral ligaments, securing the bone anchors in th e appropriate bony tunnel, and peripheral suturing of the implanted me niscus.