The meniscus is a c-shaped fibrocartilage located in the inner (medial meniscus) and outer compartment (lateral meniscus) of the in the knee joint. The meniscus is an important structure for load transmission and shock absorption in the knee. The knee can be subjected to 5-10 times body weight particularly during high impact activity. and Half of the force is transmitted through the meniscus with the knee straight, and 85% of the force goes through the meniscus with the knee bent ninety degrees. Due to the high mechanical loads on the joint it can get injured as a result of either an acute knee injury or chronic overload from repetitive impact or deep bending activities. Meniscal tears can lead to debilitating pain and mechanical irritation of the joint from meniscal fragments catching between the joint surfaces. Meniscectomy, or removal of the damaged meniscus tissue, has good short term results but removal of the shock absorbing tissue leads to increased joint surface loading forces which can lead to the joint surface breakdown and development of arthritis over time. The primary goal of meniscus preservation is to restore the meniscus tissue and reestablish its protective shock absorber function. Meniscal restoration presents a critical part of joint preservation particularly for active individuals and can be achieved in three ways:
