Der Meniskusersatz mit inkongruenten Transplantaten - eine experimentelle Untersuchung

Abstract

The effect of incongruous medial meniscal grafts on the articular surface was studied. We compared the cartilage degeneration in 4 Groups of 25 sheep knees. The histological changes were graded according to the score of Mankin, the morphological alterations by the score of Jackson. In Group 1 no surgery was performed. In group 2, the meniscus was totally detached from its base at the capsule and refixed without changes in the congruity or isometry. This group provided the basic data. In group 3, the contralateral medial meniscus was used as a transplant by reversing it. The reattachment was done according to isometric conditions. With this technique only the congruity of the tibial and femoral surface was modified. In group 4, the medial meniscus was completely removed. The results of group 1 (Mankin grade 0.58; Jackson grade 0.00) and group 2 (grade 0.50 and 0.47) showed no difference. The highest degree of degenerative changes occurred in the meniscectomized knees (group 4, grade 4.47 and 1.73), however considerable changes were also found in the knees with an incongruous meniscal graft (group 3, grade 3.37 and 1.27). The results suggest that incongruous grafts will lead to degeneration of the articular surface but still have a chondroprotective effect.