Scope Essentials 2024-Managing meniscus and cartilage deficiency in the elite athlete

Managing meniscus and cartilage deficiency in the elite athlete - is it a lost cause_

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Jonathan Hughes from the University of Pittsburgh discusses meniscus and cartilage deficiency in elite athletes, emphasizing the complexity of treatment. Non-operative options like bracing and injections (viscosupplementation, platelet-rich plasma) are first-line, especially in-season. Surgical procedures—microfracture, graft transfers, meniscus transplants, and osteotomies—serve as salvage options but have variable, often limited success with return-to-sport rates and high complication risks. Proper preoperative assessment, including history, exam, and imaging, is crucial. Managing expectations is key: surgery often does not restore elite-level performance. Addressing malalignment is critical to improving outcomes and reducing failures in these athletes.

Asset Caption

Jonathan Hughes, M.D.

Keywords

meniscus deficiency

cartilage deficiency

elite athletes

non-operative treatment

surgical treatment