Meniscus transplantation and cartilage resurfacing considerations, indications, and approach

Many knees with articular cartilage pathology have concomitant meniscus loss. I consider four structural factors when evaluating knees with meniscus and cartilage injury: (1) hyaline cartilage condition, (2) ligament stability, (3) lower extremity alignment, and (4) meniscus status. All of these factors need to be considered when evaluating a patient for cartilage repair. Surgical intervention for articular cartilage problems often involves addressing meniscus deficiency and malalignment. In this chapter, I discuss my rationale and approach to meniscus transplantation with concomitant osteotomy and cartilage resurfacing.