[Results of polyurethane implant for persistent knee pain after partial meniscectomy with a minimum of two years follow-up].

PURPOSE To present the results of a polyurethane meniscal scaffold implant in 10 patients with persistent pain after meniscectomy. METHODS Prospective, descriptive study of ten patients who underwent arthroscopic implantation of a polyurethane meniscal scaffold. Functional, MRI, and radiography assessment was performed pre-operatively and at 6-months, 1-year, and a final follow-up at a minimum of two years. Clinical evaluation included Lysholm score, KOOS and VAS. The MRI morphology and signal intensity of the implant were evaluated according to the criteria of Genovese et al. RESULTS Statistically significant differences were found between the mean Lysholm score before surgery (63.5 points), and that at 6 months (76.8 points) (p=.001), one year (83.3 points) (p<.001) and final follow-up (84.4 points) (p<.001). KOOS showed significant differences between before surgery (64.23 points), 6 months (73.66 points) (p=.001), one year (81.39 points) (p<.001) and final follow-up (83.34 points) (p<.001). The mean values for VAS were 5.7 points in the pre-operative evaluation, 3.6 points at 6 months-follow-up (p<.001), 1.9 points at one year (p<.001), and 1.9 points at final follow-up (p<.001). Radiology showed degenerative changes in one case. In MRI, the size of the implant and the intensity of the MRI signal gradually decreased, but it never changed to that of a normal meniscus. CONCLUSION A significant improvement was found in all the clinical parameters 24 months after the surgery, except in one patient who underwent furher surgery. The scaffold reduced its size and but never achieved an MRI image similar to that of a normal meniscus. The procedure proved to be safe and useful for the treatment of persistent pain after meniscectomy.