Effect of lateral meniscectomy and osteochondral grafting of a lateral femoral condylar defect on contact mechanics: a cadaveric study in dogs

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.

Evaluation of Meniscal Load and Load Distribution in the Canine Stifle after Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy with Postoperative Tibia Plateau Angles of 6 and 1 Degrees

“…The use of hinge plates has also proven to be reliable in earlier studies. 11,15,22 The I-Scan system was previously successfully used in other studies 15,[23][24][25][26][27] . Their research group was able to show impressively how femorotibial contact mechanics change after meniscal surgery or damage and how TPLO and other techniques influence stifle kinetics and kinematics.…”

“…Their research group was able to show impressively how femorotibial contact mechanics change after meniscal surgery or damage and how TPLO and other techniques influence stifle kinetics and kinematics. 15,[23][24][25][26]28 Nevertheless, the influence of postoperative TPA on the meniscal load was not investigated.…”

Lateral meniscal allograft transplantation and stabilisation in a dog with stifle subluxation

“…In dogs, injury to the lateral meniscus is rare by comparison with injury to the medial meniscus, and the cause of the injury can be cruciate ligament degeneration and stifle instability, stifle trauma associated with ligament injury,1 as an isolated injury,2 8 9 or in association with osteochondrosis dissecans 10. Studies in dogs have shown that, as in human knee, the lateral meniscus is more important in load transmission across the lateral femorotibial joint space than the medial meniscus 11. Therefore, significant damage to or complete loss of the lateral meniscus could be expected to lead to significant joint degeneration and pain through loss of its function,2 and small, incomplete, radial fringe tears may not have a significant impact on joint health 1.…”

“…10 Studies in dogs have shown that, as in human knee, the lateral meniscus is more important in load transmission across the lateral femorotibial joint space than the medial meniscus. 11 Therefore, significant damage to or complete loss of the lateral meniscus could be expected to lead to significant joint degeneration and pain through loss of its function, 2 and small, incomplete, radial fringe tears may not have a significant impact on joint health. 1 In the case described the initial diagnostic arthroscopy revealed such extensive damage to the lateral meniscus that the authors considered the prognosis for a good functional outcome with total lateral meniscectomy to be poor.…”

Perspectives on Animal Models Utilized for the Research and Development of Regenerative Therapies for Articular Cartilage

“…Dogs are better models for cartilage defects, as the thicker cartilage thickness of dogs allows creation of full or partial defects of articular cartilage without involvement of subchondral bone [9,69]. A majority of studies still utilize the osteochondral defect model in dogs [70,71]. Dog cartilage defects were selectively created in the femoral trochlea, the medial femoral condyle, and both condyles.…”