Finite element analysis of the effect of meniscal tears and meniscectomies on human knee biomechanics

Dynamic Contact Mechanics of the Medial Meniscus as a Function of Radial Tear, Repair, and Partial Meniscectomy

“…During gait, loading includes anterior/posterior and axial forces along with internal/external torques and flexion/extension moments. The contact pressures transmitted across the knee joint are sensitive to the direction and magnitude of loading 34,35 , suggesting that a dynamic test into which physiological joint loads can be programmed is needed to accurately measure joint contact pressures as a function of meniscal manipulation. The model used for this study was based on technology developed to evaluate the wear performance of total knee replacements-i.e., the Stanmore KC Knee Joint Simulator 36 .…”

“…The model used for this study was based on technology developed to evaluate the wear performance of total knee replacements-i.e., the Stanmore KC Knee Joint Simulator 36 . Unlike static or quasi-static models that provide data at discrete points in the gait cycle, the simulator allows knees to be dynamically and continuously loaded under conditions that simulate gait 28,31,34,48 . It is a force-controlled apparatus than can be programmed to simultaneously and dynamically control the axial force, anterior force, posterior force, and rotational moment (internal/external torque) as a function of the applied flexion/extension angle profile.…”

“…To date, however, experimental models have been primarily conducted under static or quasi-static uniaxial loading conditions 8,[28][29][30][31][32][33] . Given the sensitivity of joint contact pressures to the magnitude and direction of an applied load 34,35 , these models do not accurately capture the physiological effect of meniscal repair or meniscectomy on knee contact mechanics. This challenges our ability to evaluate the potential effect of meniscal tears and repair techniques on joint contact mechanics.…”

FE analysis of stress and displacements occurring in the bony chain of leg

“…Donahue et al 19 obtained similar results with a maximum stress of 4 MPa in the medial meniscus for the healthy joint coincident with experimental results. As it is possible to see by observing Table 3, results obtained by several authors in knee ligaments, except in the case of the author Pena et al 12 which adopt similar loading conditions, are quite lower than ours. This could be due to the different loading conditions analysed and to the simplifications adopted in the various FE models.…”

“…Song et al, 18 Bendjaballah et al, 11 Donahue et al, 19 Pena et al, 12 Our model 5 assumed to be composed by a single-phase linear elastic and isotropic material. Finally, the visco-elastic properties of ligaments and meniscus were not considered, although this aspect does not seem to be much relevant in this analysis.…”