Knee meniscus injuries are a common concern for athletes and active individuals, with surgery often required to manage the damage. For years, arthroscopic meniscectomy—the partial or full removal of the damaged meniscus—has been the standard of care. While this approach offers the benefit of a quicker recovery, it is not without long-term consequences. The loss of meniscal tissue can lead to a cascade of knee joint issues, including increased contact pressures, further meniscal damage, knee osteoarthritis, and the eventual need for total knee replacement^1,2. Nonetheless, the orthopedic community is now exploring regenerative approaches that may offer patients a better path forward.

The Challenge of Meniscus Injuries and Current Standard of Care

Meniscectomy is still the most common surgical procedure for meniscus injuries, especially in athletes eager to return to their sports quickly. While effective in the short term, meniscectomy can lead to a range of long-term problems, such as joint instability, early onset osteoarthritis, and further surgeries down the line. Research has shown that meniscectomy significantly increases the likelihood of joint degradation, as the meniscus plays a crucial role in absorbing mechanical forces and stabilizing the knee joint^1,2.

In a 2008 study led by Rodkey et al., patients who underwent partial meniscectomy alone were more likely to experience pain and decreased clinical function compared to those who received a collagen meniscus implant¹. Similarly, a 2011 study by Zaffagnini et al. highlighted the risk of joint space narrowing, a precursor to osteoarthritis, in patients who had undergone meniscectomy².

Despite these risks, many patients and even some healthcare providers continue to prioritize short-term recovery and symptom relief, focusing less on the potential long-term consequences of meniscal tissue removal. This underscores a gap in patient education and treatment options, where the focus remains on the immediate return to activity rather than preserving long-term knee health.

Regenerative Medicine Changes the Approach

Enter regenerative medicine—a groundbreaking approach to addressing meniscus injuries. Instead of cutting and removing damaged tissue, regenerative solutions aim to biologically restore the meniscus, allowing the knee joint to heal and regain function naturally. Regenity Biosciences’ RejuvaKnee implant has the potential to define this new frontier in meniscus repair.

RejuvaKnee is designed to support the body’s ability to regenerate the meniscus by providing a scaffold for the body’s natural healing processes. The ability to treat meniscal injuries may help reduce the risk of osteoarthritis and improve overall joint function³. In preclinical canine studies, RejuvaKnee demonstrated impressive results, showing nearly five times more tissue growth at 12 months compared to partial meniscectomy without an implant replacement⁴. (Animal model results do not necessarily translate to clinical results).

This focus on regenerative solutions offers the possibility of a major advancement in extending the lifespan of a damaged knee. Unlike traditional meniscectomy, which often leads to the deterioration of joint health, RejuvaKnee has the potential to repair meniscal injuries, which may in turn mitigate future degeneration³. Reduced meniscal degeneration may in turn reduce the need for follow-up surgeries and ultimately delay or prevent the need for total knee replacements.

Benefits for Patients and Surgeons

Though not yet studied, the implications of devices like RejuvaKnee may be far-reaching. For patients, this approach offers the potential to repair injuries to the meniscus, which may help to preserve long-term joint health. For providers, this treatment option may ultimately present a shift in how meniscus injuries are treated, moving from meniscal resection only to regenerative solutions. This shift would empower providers to offer patients an option that prioritizes the long-term preservation of the knee joint.

Research has shown that preserving or repairing meniscal tissue leads to better outcomes over time^5,6. The results from preclinical animal studies suggest that RejuvaKnee may help restore meniscal tissue, potentially offering patients a long-term solution to knee injuries⁴.

As regenerative approaches become more common, patient education must evolve as well. Orthopedic surgeons now have the tools to educate their patients about the long-term risks associated with meniscectomy and the possible benefits of options like RejuvaKnee, which have the potential to support the natural regeneration of the native meniscus. Patients who seek to maintain their joint health and avoid future complications can now choose a path that focuses on preserving the knee’s function and promoting natural tissue repair.

While meniscectomies have been the standard of care for treating meniscal injuries for decades, the long-term consequences are well documented^1,2. With the introduction of devices like RejuvaKnee, the orthopedic community has the opportunity to redefine the standard of care for meniscus repair by repairing and regenerating damaged meniscus tissue.

With the FDA clearance of RejuvaKnee, we are entering a new era in meniscus repair. The future of orthopedic care lies in regenerative medicine, with the possibility of improving patient outcomes for years to come.

References:

¹ Rodkey WG, et al. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008

² Zaffagnini S, et al. Am J Sports Med. 2011

³ Brophy et al. J AAOS 2012

⁴ Regenity Data on File, DHF 076. 2024

⁵ Stone KR et. al. Am J Sports Med. 1992

⁶ Warth RF et. al. Arthroscopy. 2013