Biologic Enhancement of Meniscus Repair

The first meniscal repair was described by Annandale in 1885. In addition to the patients’ reported 1-month stay in the hospital, many other changes have occurred in the techniques of meniscal repair since that time. Most repairs are performed rthroscopically, with a variety of suture techniques ranging from inside-out, outsiden, to all-inside. Regardless of the technique utilized, vertical suture placement is one f the cornerstones of meniscal repair. Meniscal repair techniques are discussed lsewhere in this Clinics in Sports Medicine issue and will not be further discussed erein. Since the 1980s, biologic enhancement of meniscal repair has been reported. nitially, fibrin clot was used to augment meniscal repairs in avascular zones of injury. ecently, the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to enhance spinal fusions, as well as endon and ligament repair, has been carried over to studies involving its use in eniscal repair. Furthermore, basic science and animal studies have involved tissue ngineering and the local delivery of growth factors in the enhancement of meniscal epair. This article discusses the use of biologic products to enhance meniscal repair.