Abstract
The objective of this study is to show the short-term clinical and radiological outcomes
of concentrated bone marrow aspirate (CBMA) injection administered in combination
with medial meniscus scaffold implantation. Twenty-three patients who received intra-articular
CBMA injection in combination with polyurethane-based medial meniscus scaffold implantation
were evaluated within the scope of this study. The International Knee Documentation
Committee (IKDC) questionnaire and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score
(KOOS) were used to evaluate the results, and the visual analog scale was used to
assess the pain scores. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained in the
preoperative period and at postoperative months 1, 12, 24, and 36 to assess the scaffold
position as well as chondral degeneration/damage in a comparative manner. MRI assessment
was performed by using the modified Outerbridge scale for cartilage and the Genovese
scoring system for the meniscal implant. Twenty-three patients who were included in
the study were evaluated for a mean follow-up period of 38.3 months. Patients exhibited
statistically significant improvement according to all scoring data from the preoperative
period until the follow-up period. The mean postoperative extrusion at year 3 was
2.39 mm (distribution 2.30–2.56 mm). There was no significant difference in the distribution
of the degree of chondral damage between the preoperative and 3-year follow-up periods.
Four patients did not show any improvement nor had lower scores according to the assessment.
Medial meniscus scaffold implantation combined with intra-articular CBMA injection
resulted in a significant improvement in all functions and pain scores as well as
a statistically significant clinical improvement in IKDC and KOOS values in the short-term
follow-up. The Level of evidence for this study is IV.
Keywords
meniscus - scaffold - concentrated bone marrow aspirate
