HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES OF INJURIED KNEE MENISCUS

Background. Posttraumatic changes and regenerative potential of the tissue depend on each other. Modern literature has insufficient information about pathological changes in the meniscus of the knee joint in patients after injury. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the damaged part of the meniscus of the knee at various time from the moment of injury. Material and methods. We compared 28 samples of the medial meniscus of the knee in patients before 4 months after injury and 34 samples more than 4 months after injury. The cell density and quality of meniscus tissue were determined according to the Rodeo scale. Results. In the group of patients with chronic injury, a statistically significant decrease in the density of single cells was observed, as well as a decrease in the quality of the tissue according to the applied assessment scale. Сonclusion. Over time, the cell density in the damaged part of the meniscus decreases dramatically. The observed reduced quality of the tissue 4 months after injury can lead to meniscal repair failure.