The rationale for identifying clinical predictors modifiable by tissue engineering for translational models.

This article proposes a "bedside-to-bench" approach as a model to improve clinical outcomes for patients through functional tissue engineering (TE). The link between the highest level of clinical research and evaluation criteria for musculoskeletal TE is in identifying clinically proven predictors that are amenable to functional TE. The TE solutions developed in the laboratory should then be tested in translational models to evaluate efficacy and safety prior to controlled clinical trials. The best available evidence for potentially decreasing the incidence of radiographically confirmed osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament injury is preservation of meniscus function. Meniscus tears occur concurrently in approximately 50% of anterior cruciate ligament tears. TE could promote repair of torn meniscus and/or replacement of meniscus loss because meniscus tear is a proven predictor of clinically relevant outcomes (such as osteoarthritis) in patients and is amenable to a potential TE solution.