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MRI evaluation of a collagen meniscus implant: a systematic review

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Good clinical results have been demonstrated in numerous clinical studies using the collagen meniscus implant (CMI); however, the MRI behaviour of the scaffold, evaluated with Genovese score, is limited to a few cases series. The purpose was to evaluate, using the Genovese score, the MRI behaviour of the CMI at different follow-up periods and investigate possible differences in the behaviour of lateral and medial CMI.

Methods

A comprehensive search was performed on PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase and Google Scholar databases using various combinations of the following keywords: “collagen meniscus implant” or “collagen meniscal implant”. All the studies evaluating medial or lateral CMI using Genovese score for MRI were included in the systematic review.

Results

Six studies have been included in the systematic review, with no RCT’s. The pooled number of patients involved in CMI surgery was 194 (83 % medial and 17 % lateral), with a mean age at surgery of 37.7 years. Concomitant procedures raged from 11 to 52 %.

CMI morphology was grade 1 in 0, 2.7, 5.9, 0, 16.7 %, respectively, at 6 months, 1, 2, 5, 10 years. It was grade 2 in 12.5, 60.9, 60.3, 74.4, 75 %, respectively, at 6 months, 1, 2, 5, 10 years and grade 3 in 87.5, 36.4, 33.8, 25.6, 8.3 % at the same time points.

CMI signal intensity was grade 1 in 80, 18.2, 25, 11.1, 22.2 %, respectively, at 6 months, 1, 2, 5, 10 years. It was grade 2 in 20, 78.2, 54.7, 55.6, 66.7 %, respectively, at 6 months, 1, 2, 5, 10 years and grade 3 in 0, 3.6, 20.3, 33.3, 11.1 % at the same time points. Slight differences were found between medial and lateral CMI in size and signal intensity.

Conclusions

Higher rates of scaffolds with reduced size and with an MRI signal intensity more similar to normal meniscus were reported at longer follow-up compared with initial evaluations. Correlation between MRI findings and gross CMI appearance has not been reported.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica II – Lab. di Biomeccanica, ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy

    Stefano Zaffagnini, Alberto Grassi, Giulio Maria Marcheggiani Muccioli, Tommaso Bonanzinga, Marco Nitri, Federico Raggi, Giovanni Ravazzolo & Maurilio Marcacci

  2. Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica III – Lab. di Biomeccanica, ed Innovazione Tecnologica, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    Stefano Zaffagnini

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  1. Stefano Zaffagnini
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Correspondence to Stefano Zaffagnini.

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Zaffagnini, S., Grassi, A., Marcheggiani Muccioli, G.M. et al. MRI evaluation of a collagen meniscus implant: a systematic review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 3228–3237 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3155-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3155-6

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