Innovative Textile Reinforced Anatomical Total Meniscus Replacement for the Knee Joint

Given the critical role the menisci play in the knee joint in terms of load transmission and joint stability, Meniscus injury is the most frequent orthopaedic surgical intervention with meniscus -related operations accounting for up to 50% of all knee surgeries. Despite this prevalence, for severely damaged menisci today’s standard of care is still partial or total meniscectomy with extremely limited treatment options. Removal of the meniscus is a surgical procedure that is now well understood to be a major risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) a chronic and debilitating condition that effects more than 4 million people in the UK , with an estimated 50% of partial meniscectomy patients being diagnosed with OA as a result. Orthonika, with support through the BMC programme, aim to address this healthcare challenge with the development of the first synthetic total replacement meniscus that accurately mimics the natural structure of meniscal tissue replicating the ‘structure-function’ of the natural meniscus to provide a durable implant that can be implanted with minimal invasion and fixed securely to the bone to withstand the rigour of physical activity - an option not currently available to patients with severe meniscus injury. The solution fulfils a clinical care gap between current palliative care practices and total knee replacement, restoring function and preventing the onset of OA.