ATRO Medical starts unique meniscus study

As the first worldwide, ATRO Medical is starting a clinical study on the function of an artificial outer meniscus, the lateral meniscus. This is a first: never before has a removed lateral meniscus been replaced by a plastic specimen, the Artimis® Meniscus Prosthesis. The so-called EARTH study is led by orthopedic surgeon Dr. van de Groes at the Radboudumc in Nijmegen. A total of 16 subjects may receive a lateral artificial meniscus.

Solution for pain after meniscus removal

ATRO Medical and Radboudumc are proud of this first. The study of the lateral meniscus prosthesis is designed to investigate its function and safety. The Nijmegen-based company wants to demonstrate that this procedure leads to substantial pain reduction in patients with chronic knee pain. Patients in whom the meniscus (or part of it) has previously been removed run the risk of long-term knee pain, so-called post-meniscectomy pain. Thousands of patients suffer from this in the Netherlands. And a surgical solution is only applicable for a few.

New shock absorber in the knee

ATRO Medical's innovation brings the shock absorption effect of the natural meniscus back into the knee. The implant is made of polycarbonateurethane (PCU), a material known in the medical world for its safe application. It is used, for example, in orthopedics and cardiac surgery. This material is non-biodegradable and is safe for use in the human body. The meniscus prosthesis is implanted through keyhole surgery. This is a known procedure for orthopedists. The entire procedure takes less than an hour.

Two years of support through the EARTH study

Within the EARTH study, test subjects undergo surgery in the Radboudumc. They then rehabilitate under the supervision of the physical therapist. They are monitored by the hospital for two years to record the functioning of the Artimis® artificial meniscus. The meniscus prosthesis is only available for research purposes.

About ATRO Medical

ATRO Medical is a Radboudumc spin-off based in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. They are developing the orthopedic innovation of the decade: the first artificial meniscus. Learn more about ATRO Medical.