title: Meniscal Transplantation and its Effect on Osteoarthritis Risk: an abridged protocol for the MeTEOR study: a comprehensive cohort study incorporating a pilot randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Subtotal or total meniscectomy in the medial or lateral compartment of the knee results in a high risk of future osteoarthritis. Meniscal allograft transplantation has been performed for over thirty years with the scientifically plausible hypothesis that it functions in a similar way to a native meniscus. It is thought that a meniscal allograft transplant has a chondroprotective effect, reducing symptoms and the long-term risk of osteoarthritis. However, this hypothesis has never been tested in a high-quality study on human participants. This study aims to address this shortfall by performing a pilot randomised controlled trial within the context of a comprehensive cohort study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients will be randomised to receive either meniscal transplant or a non-operative, personalised knee therapy program. MRIs will be performed every four months for one year. The primary endpoint is the mean change in cartilage volume in the weight-bearing area of the knee at one year post intervention. Secondary outcome measures include the mean change in cartilage thickness, T2 maps, patient-reported outcome measures, health economics assessment and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study is expected to report its findings in 2016. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:93-8.
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Achten
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spalding
authors.affiliation: University of Warwick, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Costa
keywords: Chondroprotection; Meniscal allograft transplantation; Osteoarthritis; Randomised controlled trial