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Clinical Use of the Meniscal Scaffold

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Bio-orthopaedics

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Abstract

Meniscal tissue defects, even partial, can cause degenerative knee changes. In the case of partial meniscal defects the use of scaffolds for meniscus regeneration has been proposed. Different types are being studied, but only two acellular scaffold are currently in use in clinical practice. Menaflex or CMI is a collagen scaffold produced by Ivy Sport Medicine (USA). The other is the european Actifit. which is synthetic in polyurethane and is produced by Orteq (UK). The indication for the scaffold implantation, which is widely accepted, is pain after previous meniscectomy. The prophylactic use of the scaffold is still being debated. At medium, long-term follow up a significant clinical improvement has been reported. The MRI examination showed the scaffold signal reduced in size and hyperintense in most cases. The arthroscopic re-look and the histological evaluation also confirmed the in- growth of new tissue inside the scaffold, but the appearance of this tissue was different from the normal meniscus. The lack of progression of degenerative processes of the knee joint was observed, suggesting a possible protective effect on articular cartilage. However, further studies will be necessary to evaluate if the prophylactic use of the scaffold is valid.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Policlinico di Monza, Monza, Italy

    P. Bulgheroni

  2. Ospedale di Cles, Trento, Italy

    E. Bulgheroni

  3. Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Varese, Italy

    M. Campagnolo

Authors
  1. P. Bulgheroni
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  2. E. Bulgheroni
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  3. M. Campagnolo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Bulgheroni .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. O.A.S.I. Bioresearch Foundation NPO, Milan, Italy

    Alberto Gobbi

  2. Clínica do Dragão, Espregueira-Mendes Sports Centre – FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Porto, Portugal

    João Espregueira-Mendes

  3. Musculoskeletal and Joint Research Foundation, San Diego, California, USA

    John G. Lane

  4. Department of Orthopedics, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mustafa Karahan

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Bulgheroni, P., Bulgheroni, E., Campagnolo, M. (2017). Clinical Use of the Meniscal Scaffold. In: Gobbi, A., Espregueira-Mendes, J., Lane, J., Karahan, M. (eds) Bio-orthopaedics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-54181-4_30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-54181-4_30

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-54180-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-54181-4

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