title: Effect of partial and complete posterior cruciate ligament transection on medial meniscus: A biomechanical evaluation in a cadaveric model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between medial meniscus tear and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury has not been exactly explained. We studied to investigate the biomechanical effect of partial and complete PCL transection on different parts of medial meniscus at different flexion angles under static loading conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  TWELVE FRESH HUMAN CADAVERIC KNEE SPECIMENS WERE DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS: PCL intact (PCL-I), anterolateral bundle transection (ALB-T), posteromedial bundle transection (PMB-T) and PCL complete transection (PCL-T) group. Strain on the anterior horn, body part and posterior horn of medial meniscus were measured under different axial compressive tibial loads (200-800 N) at 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° knee flexion in each groups respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the PCL-I group, the PCL-T group had a higher strain on whole medial meniscus at 30°, 60° and 90° flexion in all loading conditions and at 0° flexion with 400, 600 and 800 N loads. In ALB-T group, strain on whole meniscus increased at 30°, 60° and 90° flexion under all loading conditions and at 0° flexion with 800 N only. PMB-T exihibited higher strain at 0° flexion with 400 N, 600 N and 800 N, while at 30° and 60° flexion with 800 N and at 90° flexion under all loading conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partial PCL transection triggers strain concentration on medial meniscus and the effect is more pronounced with higher loading conditions at higher flexion angles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China ; Institute of Central South University, Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Guang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rui-Bo
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Kang-Hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guang-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lei
keywords: Biomechanics; medial meniscus; posterior cruciate ligament