The triad of varus malalignment, meniscectomy, and chondral damage: a biomechanical explanation for joint degeneration.
This biomechanical study evaluates the effect of varus malalalignment on knees with a chondral defect, both pre- and post-medial meniscectomy. Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were first loaded physiologically. The knees were next loaded in increasing increments of varus. This loading cycle then was repeated after a chondral defect had been created, both pre- and post-medial meniscectomy. We found that a relatively small degree of varus malalignment caused a dramatic alteration in articular surface contact pressure and medial compartment loading, especially in the presence of chondral damage and/or medial meniscectomy. These findings may have important implications relating to the treatment of younger individuals with varus knees who have sustained meniscal and/or chondral damage.
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
Joseph
J
Guettler
Richard
R
Glisson
Alston
A
Stubbs
Kenneth
K
Jurist
Laurence
L
Higgins
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017760:Bone Malalignment / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002102:Cadaver; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013314:Stress, Mechanical