Abstract
BackgroundOsteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) aims at restoring normal articular cartilage surface geometry and articular contact mechanics. To date, no studies have evaluated the contact mechanics of the canine stifle following OAT. Additionally, there are no studies that evaluated the role of the meniscus in contact mechanics following OAT in human or canine femorotibial joints. The objective of this study was to measure the changes in femorotibial contact areas (CA), mean contact pressure (MCP) and peak contact pressure (PCP) before and after osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) of a simulated lateral femoral condylar cartilage defect with an intact lateral meniscus and following lateral meniscectomy.ResultsWith an intact lateral meniscus, creation of an osteochondral defect caused a decrease in MCP and PCP by 11% and 30%, respectively, compared to the intact stifle (p < 0.01). With an intact meniscus, implanting an osteochondral graft restored MCP and PCP to 96% (p = 0.56) and 92% (p = 0.41) of the control values. Lateral meniscectomy with grafting decreased CA by 54% and increased PCP by 79% compared to the intact stifle (p < 0.01).ConclusionsOAT restored contact pressures in stifles with a simulated lateral condylar defect when the meniscus was intact. The lateral meniscus has a significant role in maintaining normal contact pressures in both stifles with a defect or following OAT. Meniscectomy should be avoided when a femoral condylar defect is present and when performing OAT.
Highlights
Osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) aims at restoring normal articular cartilage surface geometry and articular contact mechanics
Effect of lateral meniscectomy Removal of the lateral meniscus in the presence of a lateral femoral condylar defect resulted in a significant decrease in contact areas (CA) of 54% (p < 0.001) and an increase in peak contact pressure (PCP) of 79% (p = 0.001) compared to the control stifle
Removal of the lateral meniscus with treatment of the lateral condylar defect by an OAT graft significantly decreased CA when compared to the control stifle (55% lower than control, [p = 0.002]), PCP decreased to a value that was not significantly different from the control stifle (67% greater than control [p = 0.051])
Summary
Osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) aims at restoring normal articular cartilage surface geometry and articular contact mechanics. The use of OAT for treatment of osteochondrosis lesions of the lateral femoral condyle, medial aspect of the humeral condyle, and Experimentally created osteochondral defects have been shown to alter femorotibial contact pressures in humans and dogs in several in vitro studies [8,9,10]. No studies have evaluated the contact mechanics of the canine stifle following OAT. There are no studies that evaluated the role of the meniscus in contact mechanics following OAT in human or canine femorotibial joints
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