The biomechanical role of meniscal allograft transplantation and preliminary in-vivo kinematic evaluation

Zaffagnini S, Grassi A, Marcheggiani Muccioli GM, Roberti di Sarsina T, Macchiarola L, Mosca M, Marcacci M · Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Anteroposterior laxity and internal-external rotation fell by 25% to 50% at both 30 and 90 degrees of flexion after the graft was in place, in both knees. The review half of the paper sets out why: the meniscus carries load as a tension ring, so removing it concentrates stress on a smaller area of cartilage, and a graft only reproduces that function if its attachments hold.

Population

Two patients measured intraoperatively with a surgical navigation system — one medial allograft with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, one lateral allograft — alongside a narrative review of the biomechanical literature

Intervention

Meniscal allograft transplantation, with knee laxity measured before and after the graft was seated

Limitations

Two patients, measured under anaesthesia during the operation itself, with no comparison group and no follow-up — it shows the graft changes laxity on the table, not that the change lasts or matters to a joint. The biomechanical background is a narrative review, so the cadaver figures in it belong to the papers it cites rather than to this one. Funded by the authors; they declare no competing interests.