MeTEOR; Meniscal Transplantation and its Effect on Osteoarthritis Risk
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Comprehensive Cohort Study of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation versus Personalised Knee Therapy for Patients with a Symptomatic Meniscus Deficient Knee.
IRAS ID
125446
Contact name
Nicholas Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Warwick
Research summary
A meniscus is a shock absorber in the knee and protects it from impact. Tears of the meniscus are the most common knee injury. In most cases the torn portion of the meniscus has to be removed. It is well known that this increases the risk of arthritis in the knee and therefore the prospect of a knee replacement at a young age. Meniscal transplantation is currently provided on the NHS, but there is very little evidence to determine if a meniscal transplant protects the knee from arthritis. New advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have now enabled us to detect the early changes of arthritis in the knee, giving a new opportunity to determine whether meniscal transplantation may prevent arthritis. This trial will be performed where patients will be allocated at random to either a meniscal transplant or routine care, which includes physiotherapy and a knee brace. Patients will have an MRI every four months, which will be analysed using highly sensitive techniques. For patients that are willing to take part in research but do not want their treatment to be randomly allocated, we will follow them up with an MRI at the beginning and at one year. They will be able to choose their treatment. All treatments in this trial are currently provided on the NHS and this centre has a lot of experience in managing these patients.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0315
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion