Lateral Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Shows a Long-Term Chondroprotective Effect on Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2 Mapping at 7-Year Minimum Follow-Up

Purpose: To assess the long-term chondroprotective effect of lateral meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping. Methods: In patients who underwent isolated lateral MAT, quantitative MRI T2 mapping was conducted preoperatively and postoperatively with at minimum follow-up of 7 years to assess the articular cartilage status. On the sagittal section image bisecting the lateral femoral condyle, the weight-bearing portions of the femoral and tibial articular cartilage were divided into 3 segments each-6 segments in total-based on the meniscal coverage area. The regions-of-interest analyses were performed on the 6 segments to measure the mean T2 value. Then the whole layer was divided into deep and superficial layers for further zonal analysis. The longitudinal change in T2 values was statistically analyzed using paired t-tests. Clinical outcome was evaluated using the Lysholm score. Results: A total of 31 patients were included in the study, with the MRI follow-up period of a minimum of 7 years (mean: 8.9 +/- 1.3 years; range: 7.0-11.2 years). The mean T2 value of the whole layer showed significant improvement in all segments of the femoral cartilage and the posterior segment of tibial cartilage. In the zonal analysis, the mean T2 value of the tibial cartilage showed significant improvement in the superficial layer of the mid to posterior portion, while the deep layer remained stable. In contrast, the mean T2 value of the femoral cartilage showed significant improvement in the superficial and deep layers in all segments. The mean Lysholm score significantly improved from 62.6 +/- 12.8 to 90.9 +/- 10.5 (P < .001). Conclusions: This study suggests that MAT appears to have a long-term chondroprotective effect on the articular cartilage as judged by quantitative T2 mapping.