Evaluation of a Meniscal Repair Scaffold in an Ovine Model

INTRODUCTION: Few options exist to repair damaged knee menisci, oftentimes leading to a partial or full meniscectomy. However, removal of meniscal tissue can result in joint degeneration, therefore scaffolds designed to elicit rapid infiltration of cells and tissue growth in the defect site are under development. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term in vivo performance of a biodegradable porous polyurethane scaffold in a partial meniscectomy ovine model. Our hypothesis was that scaffold implantation would promote tissue ingrowth without detrimentally affecting adjacent articular cartilage compared to non-scaffold implanted control knees.