Synthetic meniscal scaffolds

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomies showed better clinical results with respect to complete meniscus removal, but at long-term follow-up a substantial number of patients suffer the effect of a lost meniscus cartilage. It is extremely important to preserve the meniscus as much as possible to avoid degenerative knee joint progression. During the 1980s Stone, Steadman and Rodkey developed a new collagen I scaffold to replace meniscus in the case of irreparable major tears: the CMI (Collagen Meniscus Implant). After 13 years of good results in implanting ReGen, Medial CMI, in 2006 we started a postmarketing study to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of an equivalent meniscal scaffold specifically designed to repair the lateral meniscal defect (ReGen, Lateral CMI). In this study, we describe indications for the implantation of a CMI device, the evolution of the surgical technique (from in-out arthroscopic suturing technique to all-inside arthroscopic scaffold implantation) in these 13 years of experience, and a short report of our clinical results.