Peter's experience with the Artimis® Meniscus Prosthesis

In 2018, Peter Scheijen suffered a painful tear in his medial meniscus. He underwent surgery, but recovery was slow, and his symptoms returned in 2019. Through a Facebook post, he came into contact with ATRO Medical and signed up via the website as a participant in a two-year clinical study of the meniscus prosthesis.

His motivation for joining the study was to help others with similar knee problems. At age 52, he also hoped to gain another ten good years with his own knee—without needing a total knee replacement. That made the decision to participate an easy one.

The treatment and examinations were carried out at Maastricht UMC+. Peter appreciated that the screening process included both an MRI and X-rays, and that everything was clearly explained. In June 2019, Dr. Pieter Emans implanted ATRO Medical’s first-generation artificial meniscus.

Rehabilitation took longer than expected. It wasn’t until about a year and a half later that Peter was pain-free. After that, he was able to return to work as a heating system service technician, performing physically demanding tasks like climbing stairs and kneeling—without pain. Thanks to the meniscus prosthesis, he also resumed activities like hiking, attending concerts, and going to festivals.

In February 2023, the prosthesis was removed after 3.5 years due to a misstep on the stairs, which caused a heavy impact on his knee and damaged the implant. In December 2023, Peter received a partial knee replacement. He has since transitioned to a less physically demanding office job.

Peter remains very positive about his participation in the clinical study. He emphasizes that he was able to do “almost everything” with the meniscus prosthesis, including long walks and attending festivals. He recommends the prosthesis without hesitation to others with similar knee complaints—especially now that ATRO Medical has developed a redesigned version with a shorter rehabilitation period and a reduced risk of damage.

Curious about someone else's experience? Read another personal story here.