Reducing the Size of the Meniscal Allograft Decreases the Percentage of Extrusion After Meniscal Allograft Transplantation

PurposeThe purpose was to evaluate the amount of extrusion and clinical and radiographic outcomes of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) after use of a modified Pollard method to measure the size of the meniscus.MethodsWe analyzed 36 patients who underwent MAT between September 2002 and June 2008. Eighteen patients had preoperative allograft sizing by the conventional Pollard sizing method, and the other 18 had the size measured by our modified method, reducing the total size of the graft by 5% from the Pollard method. The mean follow-up period was 31.4 months (range, 24 to 36 months). We compared the absolute amount of extrusion and the relative percentage of extrusion between the 2 groups. We also compared the Lysholm knee score, amount of joint space narrowing on radiographs, and Kellgren-Lawrence grade.ResultsThe absolute amount of extrusion did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. However, the mean relative percentage of extrusion was lower in the modified Pollard group (P = .037). The mean Lysholm knee score increased in all patients, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in terms of radiographic outcomes.ConclusionsReducing the graft size by 5% from the Pollard method decreases the percentage of meniscal extrusion after MAT without any adverse outcome clinically or radiographically.Level of EvidenceLevel III, retrospective comparative study.