Summary
In this case series of collegiate and professional athletes undergoing meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT), 47.1% successfully returned to their pre-injury level of sport, with high overall satisfaction and no significant differences in reoperation or failure rates between returners and non-returners.
Abstract
Background
There is a paucity of literature reporting clinical outcomes and return to sport (RTS) rates for collegiate and professional athletes undergoing meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT).
Hypothesis/Purpose
Collegiate and professional athletes undergoing MAT will experience high satisfaction and return to sport rates.
Study Design
Retrospective case series, Level IV evidence
Methods
A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed to evaluate RTS outcomes following MAT in collegiate and professional athletes. Athletes who underwent MAT between 2010 and 2023 with preoperative intent to return to sport were identified and contacted to complete a standardized RTS survey. Postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), were collected at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. RTS rates, PROs, reoperations, and failure rates were compared between athletes who successfully returned to sport and those who did not.
Results
Seventeen patients [mean age 23.80 years, n = 10 (58.8%), male] were included [n = 13 (76.5%), collegiate athletes; n = 4 (23.5%), professional athletes]. Eight (47.1%) athletes successfully returned to their pre-injury level of competition at a mean of 12.43 months postoperatively. Athletes who returned had significantly higher KOOS Sport scores (78.75 ± 6.29 vs. 52.50 ± 19.27, P = 0.027) and KOOS QOL scores (86.00 ± 9.45 vs. 47.66 ± 31.51, P = 0.042) than those who did not. While reoperations were common (58.8% overall), reoperation rates (50.0% RTS vs. 66.7% non-RTS, P = 1.00) and failure rates (11.8%) did not significantly differ between groups. Overall, 75.0% of athletes indicated they would undergo MAT again. Use of cBMA was more common in athletes who returned to sport (62.5% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.0498). The most commonly cited reasons for failing to return to sport included surgeon or medical advice to discontinue participation (33.3%), persistent knee instability or functional limitations (22.2%), ongoing pain (22.2%), and a lack of desire to return due to quality-of-life improvements and concerns about reinjury (22.2%).
Conclusion
Among collegiate and professional athletes with preoperative intent to RTS, 47.1% successfully returned to their pre-injury level of competition following MAT. The principal reason an athlete did not return to sport was surgeon advice to discontinue participation. Reoperation in this cohort is common, though rates of reoperation and clinical failure do not significantly differ between athletes based on the ability to successfully RTS. Satisfaction rates in these athletes following MAT remain high regardless of their ability to successfully RTS postoperatively.