First Dedicated Meniscus Transplant Center Opens in the United States

SAN FRANCISCO, November 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Controversial procedure aimed at delaying or sparing total knee replacement is now available as an outpatient surgery at dedicated Clinic in San Francisco.

The world's first dedicated meniscus transplant center opened today at The Stone Clinic in San Francisco.  Unlike kidneys, livers, lungs, and hearts, the meniscus cartilage of the knee has not received the attention it deserves. Unfortunately, once removed, the meniscus does not re-grow and the knee becomes arthritic. Patients wait until their arthritis becomes severe and then undergo an artificial joint replacement.

Every year 1.3 million people around the world are recommended to undergo knee replacement surgery. Since the late 1980's, transplantation of the meniscus has been performed infrequently and usually only in healthy young knees. However, in 2010, The Stone Research Foundation in San Francisco reported on long-term results of meniscus transplantation in arthritic knees with a 79% success rate at improving pain and function. Their peer-reviewed, prospective study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (Br) proved that a meniscus transplant combined with an articular cartilage stem cell paste graft procedure can delay knee replacement for an average of 9.9 years, even in the presence of arthritis. The full study can be viewed at http://meniscustransplantcenter.com/publications.

Due to the technical difficulties of the procedure and the difficulty of performing biologic replacement procedures in arthritic knees, few surgeons around the world attempt it. The importance of this Center according to founder Kevin R Stone, M.D., is that the surgeon, nurses, rehabilitation team, and scientific researchers work together to optimize the outcome.

Over 225 patients have traveled from around the globe to The Stone Clinic for meniscus transplantation. The patients have ranged from world-class skiers, such as Matt Reardon, pro football players, ultramarathoners and even elderly people wanting to avoid joint replacement. To understand the ability to return to high-level sports, watch this short video:  http://meniscustransplantcenter.com/patient-stories

"Many arthritic, bone-on-bone patients, often younger than 60, are told to sit at home and wait for their knee replacement; however, the technology and expertise exists that can return them to their activities and keep them from having a knee replacement for an average of approximately ten years," according to Stone.

More information can be found at http://www.meniscustransplantcenter.com.