Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40983907›Full record

ReviewKnee surgery & related research2025

Clinical results and failure rates after meniscal allograft transplantation and autologous chondrocyte implantation: a systematic review.

Johannes Pawelczyk, Ilias Fanourgiakis, Sven Feil, Sven Schneider, Ioannis Kougioumtzis, Rainer Siebold

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Knee surgery & related research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Johannes PawelczykInternational Center for Orthopedics, ATOS Clinic Heidelberg, Bismarckstr. 9-15, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany. pawelczyk.johannes@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-4128-5431
Ilias FanourgiakisInternational Center for Orthopedics, ATOS Clinic Heidelberg, Bismarckstr. 9-15, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
Sven FeilInternational Center for Orthopedics, ATOS Clinic Heidelberg, Bismarckstr. 9-15, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
Sven SchneiderCenter for Preventive Medicine and Digital Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
Ioannis KougioumtzisInternational Center for Orthopedics, ATOS Clinic Heidelberg, Bismarckstr. 9-15, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
Rainer SieboldInternational Center for Orthopedics, ATOS Clinic Heidelberg, Bismarckstr. 9-15, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMeniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) are well-established procedures. However, evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of their combined application remains inconclusive. Thus, the present systematic review aimed to comprehensively evaluate the existing literature on clinical outcomes after combined MAT and ACI.

methodsA comprehensive search of clinical studies reporting on clinical outcomes after combined MAT and ACI was performed across three databases in accordance with the review protocol. Key demographic data, surgical technique, knee-specific patient-reported outcome measures, failure rates, and reoperation rates were extracted from eligible studies and analyzed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS).

resultsThe search yielded 246 studies, 9 of which satisfied inclusion and exclusion criteria, comprising 155 patients undergoing combined MAT and ACI at an average age of 36.1 years. The mean follow-up duration was 5.3 years (2.0-12.9 years). Clinical outcome measures improved across all studies (with one exception in a single outcome measure); statistical significance was shown in six out of seven studies reporting significance analysis. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores were reported by four studies, showing an average improvement of 22.0 points. Lysholm scores showed an average improvement of 20.0 points across five studies. Of five studies comparing combined procedures with isolated procedures, one comparative study and one literature comparison reported inferior outcomes after combined surgery, while one subgroup analysis and two literature comparisons found comparable outcomes. Failure rates ranged from 0.0% to 52.6%, with significant methodological heterogeneity. The mean reoperation rate was 35.0% across seven studies.

conclusionsCombined MAT and ACI leads to meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes, with notable failure and reoperation rates. While some studies suggest outcomes may be comparable or inferior to isolated procedures, only one study directly assessed this. As such, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. Combined MAT and ACI can be considered as a viable option in select patients, but realistic expectations must be ensured.

Indexed as

Autologous chondrocyte implantationCartilageMeniscal allograft transplantationMeniscusOsteoarthritis

Identifiers

PMID40983907
PMCPMC12455755

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.