Biomechanical analysis of the effects of medial meniscectomy on degenerative osteoarthritis.
To investigate the effects of meniscectomy on degenerative osteoarthritis, a three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of the human lower limb is constructed from a combination of magnetic resonance (MR) images and computed tomographic (CT) images that can provide anatomically suitable boundary conditions for a knee joint. Four cases, i.e., the intact meniscus, and the partial, sub-total, and total meniscectomy of the medial meniscus are modeled and simulated. We consider that the cartilage-to-cartilage contact area and the peak contact pressure in the meniscus may be significant parameters in evaluating degenerative osteoarthritis. Partial meniscectomy can be regarded as a better treatment than sub-total/total meniscectomy, and a high possibility of degenerative osteoarthritis is anticipated after total meniscectomy. Moreover, medial meniscectomy has the potential to bring about degenerative osteoarthritis in both the medial compartment and the lateral compartment of a knee joint.
School of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
Ji Yong
JY
Bae
Kyung Soon
KS
Park
Jong Keun
JK
Seon
Dai Soon
DS
Kwak
Insu
I
Jeon
Eun Kyoo
EK
Song
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008954:Models, Biological; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods