Patent ID: 7560432

Claim:
A method for in situ treatment and repair of a meniscal injury, tear or lesion, said method comprising steps: a) performing an arthroscopic surgical incision in a patient; b) determining the size and extent of the meniscal injury, tear or lesion; c) depositing into said meniscal injury, tear or lesion during said arthroscopic surgery an adhesive hydrogel complex consisting essentially of methylated collagen-polyethylene glycol by filling said injury, tear or lesion completely with said hydrogel complex; d) allowing said hydrogel complex to gel, adhere to a surrounding meniscal tissue and to bond with said surrounding tissue, wherein said gelled hydrogel complex bonds to the surrounding meniscal tissue and holds a torn area or lesion together during a period of healing and induces cell migration and extracellular matrix formation during such period of healing; e) suturing the arthroscopic incision after gelling and adhering of said hydrogel to the surrounding tissue and bonding of said collagen matrix to said surrounding meniscal tissue; and f) instructing the patient to begin to walk and exercise within a day or two days following the surgery.