Effect of degenerative and radial tears of the meniscus and resultant meniscectomy on the knee joint: a finite element analysis

ConclusionOur finite element model provides a realistic three-dimensional knee model to investigate the effects of degenerative and radial meniscal tears and resultant meniscectomy on the stress distribution of the knee. The stress was increased in meniscal tears and increased significantly when meniscectomy was performed. Increased meniscus extrusion may explain the mechanism for higher stress on the components of the knee.The translational potential of this articleMeniscal tears are the most common damage associated to the menisci, and meniscectomy is often performed to relieve the pain and instability of the knee. The results of our study indicated increased stress on cartilages and menisci, which may lead to early onset of osteoarthritis. This may guide surgeons to preserve more of the meniscus when performing meniscectomy.
Source: Journal of Orthopaedic Translation - Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research