Surgical Therapy and Tissue Engineering for Meniscal Repair

Meniscal damage is one of the prevalent causes of knee pain, swelling, instability, and functional compromise, frequently culminating in osteoarthritis (OA). Timely and appropriate interventions are crucial to relieve symptoms and prevent or delay the onset of OA. Contemporary surgical treatments include total or partial meniscectomy, meniscal repair, allograft meniscal transplantation, and synthetic meniscal implants, but each presents its specific limitations. Recently, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have emerged as promising fields, offering innovative prospects for meniscal regeneration and repair. This review delineates current surgical methods, elucidating their specific indications, advantages, and disadvantages. Concurrently, it delves into state-of-the-art tissue engineering techniques aimed at the functional regenerative repair of meniscus. Recommendations for future research and clinical practice are also provided.