Abstract
ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of a change in the meniscus cross sectional shape on its position and on the biomechanics of a knee joint.MethodsOne main finite element model of a left knee joint was created on the basis of MRI images. The model consisted of bones, articular cartilages, menisci and ligaments. Eight variants of this model with an increased or decreased meniscus height were then prepared. Nonlinear static analyses with a fixed flexion/extension movement for a compressive load of 1000 N were performed. The additional analyses for those models with a constrained medio-lateral relative bone translation allowed for an evaluation of the influence of this translation on a meniscus external shift.ResultsIt was observed that a decrease in the meniscus height caused a decrease in the contact area, together with a decrease in the contact force between the flattened meniscus and the cartilage. For the models with an increased meniscus height, a maximal value of force acting on the meniscus in a medio-lateral direction was obtained. The results have shown that the meniscus external shift was approximately proportional to the meniscus slope angle, but that relationship was modified by a medio-lateral relative bone translation. It was found that the translation of the femur relative to the tibia may be dependent on the geometry of the menisci.ConclusionsThe results have suggested that a change in the meniscus geometry in the cross sectional plane can considerably affect not only the meniscal external shift, but also the medio-lateral translation of the knee joint as well as the congruency of the knee joint.
Highlights
Menisci are crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structures that are located between the femoral condyles and the tibial plateau
It was observed that a decrease in the meniscus height caused a decrease in the contact area, together with a decrease in the contact force between the flattened meniscus and the cartilage
The results have shown that the meniscus external shift was approximately proportional to the meniscus slope angle, but that relationship was modified by a medio-lateral relative bone translation
Summary
Menisci are crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structures that are located between the femoral condyles and the tibial plateau They increase the congruence between the articular surfaces and they transmit a load across the incongruous tibiofemoral joint, thereby decreasing the mechanical load on the articular cartilage [1,2]. Many authors have reported that a meniscal external displacement (extrusion) reduces the mechanical protection of the knee cartilage. This causes cartilage loss, knee pain, synovitis and it represents a strong risk factor for the onset and the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee [6,7,8,9]. It remains unclear why menisci, without any lesions, alter their position and how a change in their shape influences this process [10,13,15]
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