Summary

Tissue-engineered load-sharing scaffolds offer the potential to preserve articular cartilage and prevent degenerative changes that occur after meniscectomy. Although meniscectomy can provide pain relief, total removal of the meniscus leads to articular cartilage damage and eventually osteoarthritis. Even so, each year an estimated 1.7 million meniscectomies are performed. This article describea a C-shaped implant device being developed that mimics meniscal mechanics, serves as a scaffold for neomeniscus formation, and offers chondroprotection against degenerative arthritis.