The meniscus is one of the most frequently injured parts of the knee. It looks like a pad of tissue, similar to the cartilage, which eases the burden on the knee. The young patient named Tjaša injured it so badly that it had to be completely removed and replaced by another meniscus. Tjaša will start walking today and her recovery will last less than a year.

The preparation for the surgery was also demanding as a meniscus had to be ordered from the U.S. Bogdan Ambrožič from the Valdotra Orthopedic Hospital says it was all connected to high costs and that the surgery itself was difficult. Such a meniscus costs around eight thousand U.S. Dollars. It was difficult to find one as Belgium, for example, did not have enough menisci to cover its own needs, added the head of Valdotra Radoslav Marčan.
Another problem was the lack of knowledge about such procedures in Slovenia. The team of experts was joined by one of the most esteemed surgeons from Belgium, Professor Rene Verdonk, who has performed more than 400 such transplants. He says the procedure has more of a preventive character; it prevents illnesses such as osteoarthritis and reduces the chances of one requiring artificial joints. Such procedures also prevent new surgeries in the next 30 or 40 years, said Verdonk.
Only a few meniscal transplants are to be performed in Slovenia every year. Patients will not have to pay for the procedure, as the Valdotra hospital hopes to reach a sensible agreement with the health insurance agency.