Degenerative meniscal tears are common findings even in young patients' knees, and they could be very impacting to everyday quality of life of the patient. Furthermore, standing the high risk of accelerating OA performing meniscectomy in these patients, conservative management is often invoked, even if there is a paucity of therapeutic options. The goal of this study is to evaluate the clinical effect of the ultra-sound guided intrameniscal cycle of three injections of a polynucleotides gel solution, whose viscoelastic properties could let the meniscus regain its shock-proofing role.
data regarding 18 patients originally included in the conservative arm of a multicentric nonrandomized clinical trial were included in this paper. A cycle of 3 ultrasound-guided injections of Condrotide® were performed over the course of 2 consecutive weeks. Patients were investigated before the procedure, after 3 months, after 6 months and after 12 months since the last injection. An MRI was performed at basal time and after 6 months. A plan radiograph of the knee was performed at basal time and after 12 months. Symptoms were investigated by KOOS, VAS, IKDC, Tegner score.
18 patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included.
Mean pre-treatment score were KOOS 54,5 [Symptoms 70; Pain 60; ADL 74,5; Function and Sports 27; QoL 41,5]. Pre-treatment mean VAS was 61. Mean KOOS after three and six months from the completion of the cycle w as 85 and 77,88 [Symptoms 86-96,7; Pain 92-92; ADL 94,5-96; Function and Sports 90; QoL 85,5], VAS was 18,6 at three months and 7 at six months. No adverse reaction were recorded.
Ultrasound-guided intrameniscal injection of Condrotide® showed promising results in providing relief of symptoms in patients with degenerative meniscal tears. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of this innovative therapeutic option.