Purpose of Technology

Meniscal allograft transplantation is a surgical procedure that involves grafting a donor meniscus into the knee of a recipient. The objective of a meniscal allograft transplantation is to preserve the important role that the meniscus plays in knee stability and functioning by replacing a damaged meniscus with a transplanted one, or to reintroduce a meniscus in cases of an unsatisfactory meniscectomy outcome.

Questions addressed in this report include:

• Is meniscal allograft transplantation effective in restoring knee function and reducing the risk of adverse events, such as early degenerative osteoarthritis, that are often associated with removal of the meniscus?
• Is meniscal allograft transplantation safe?
• For which patients might meniscal allograft transplantation provide a benefit?

These questions provide a framework for review and synthesis of the best available evidence, which is presented in this report, along with the Hayes Ratings for the technology. This report also provides background information about the condition being treated, a description of the technology, and the context for development of the technology. Other key elements addressed in the report include the regulatory status; applicable Medicare and commercial payer coverage policies; relevant ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes; cost and cost effectiveness; credentialing; hospital length of stay; need for large case management; and ongoing and future clinical trials of the technology.

Posted in Directory Reports
This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 at 12:00 pm.