Surgical Therapy and Tissue Engineering for Meniscal Repair

Abstract

Meniscal damage is one of the prevalent causes of knee pain, swelling, instability, and functional compromise, frequently culminating in osteoarthritis (OA). Timely and appropriate interventions are crucial to relieve symptoms and prevent or delay the onset of OA. Contemporary surgical treatments include total or partial meniscectomy, meniscal repair, allograft meniscal transplantation, and synthetic meniscal implants, but each presents its specific limitations. Recently, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have emerged as promising fields, offering innovative prospects for meniscal regeneration and repair. This review delineates current surgical methods, elucidating their specific indications, advantages, and disadvantages. Concurrently, it delves into state-of-the-art tissue engineering techniques aimed at the functional regenerative repair of meniscus. Recommendations for future research and clinical practice are also provided.

Impact Statement

Repairing meniscal injuries has always been a great challenge for orthopedic surgeons. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the advantages, disadvantages, and indications of current surgical methods for treating meniscal injuries. We also present readers with insights into the current state of research, development trends, and key challenges in tissue engineering techniques aimed at achieving functional regenerative repair of the meniscus. Finally, this article provides recommendations for future research and clinical practice.