Development of an artificial meniscus using polyvinyl alcohol-hydrogel for early return to, and continuance of, athletic life in sportspersons with severe meniscus injury. I: mechanical evaluation.
The importance of knee meniscus function is now recognized, and the treatment of meniscus injury has been changing from resection to repair. However, depending on the type of injury, meniscectomy sometimes cannot be avoided. The young athlete might undergo meniscectomy in order to return to sports life as early as possible. However, in such a knee, it is important to anticipate the future problem of degenerative change or osteoarthrosis. In consideration of the prognosis and circumstances in such patients, we have developed an artificial meniscus using polyvinyl alcohol-hydrogel (PVA-H) and performed mechanical tests for compression and stress-relaxation. We found that the human meniscus has unique viscoelastic properties and a high water content. PVA-H showed viscoelastic behaviour similar to that of human meniscus in mechanical tests. These results suggest that an artificial meniscus using PVA-H with a high water content can compensate for meniscal function and might be clinically applicable.
Kobayashi
Masanori
M
Department of Tissue Regeneration, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. m-bear@rf7.so-net.ne.jp
Toguchida
Jyunya
J
Oka
Masanori
M
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019245:Compressive Strength; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength; D000070600:Tibial Meniscus Injuries; D013997:Time Factors
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C062364:polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol