(Fig 1-E.22) Expected Findings Of Keyhole (bone block and slot) Technique

https://youtu.be/yFSeb5KicyE

https://youtu.be/SXRAadVysHc

📌After Meniscal Allograft Transplantation (MAT), the allograft bone block or plugs undergo a critical process of incorporation into the host's proximal tibia, which is a significant aspect of the postoperative healing phase. Key points include:

 

1️⃣ Bone Incorporation: 

The union at the cancellous–cancellous junctions can occur as early as four months post-transplantation, as observed in clinicopathological analyses. 

This period marks the beginning of the integration of the allograft with the host bone, indicating the start of successful transplantation outcomes.

 

2️⃣ Expected Postoperative Findings: 

Clinicians can anticipate several changes following MAT, including diffuse increased signal in the graft meniscus, meniscal shrinkage, and mild graft extrusion as part of the normal healing process. 

Additionally, nearly 60% of grafts display surfacing signal, which is generally stable and not indicative of complications.

 

3️⃣ Allograft Healing: 

Research by Lee et al. has highlighted that meniscus signal intensity tends to increase over time, remaining elevated at one year postoperatively. 

This increase is notably more pronounced in the anterior horn compared to the posterior horn. Interestingly, these signal changes have not been correlated with functional outcomes in a two-year clinical follow-up, suggesting that increased signal intensity after 12 months is more indicative of meniscal tear than the graft maturation process.

 

✅ MRI Observations: It's also noted that allograft menisci typically exhibit higher signal intensities on MRI compared to normal menisci, a factor that should be considered when evaluating postoperative imaging.

 

"Visualizing MSK Radiology: A Practical Guide to Radiology Mastery"

© 2022 MSK MRI Jee Eun Lee All Rights Reserved.

#VisualizingMSK  #meniscaltear #meniscus #transplant #allograft #meniscusallograft #kneeMRI

You may not distribute or commercially exploit the content.

Nor may you transmit it or store it on any other website or other forms of the electronic retrieval system.