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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

Biomechanical assessment of disease outcome in surgical interventions for medial meniscal posterior root tears: a finite element analysis

Authors: Zhi Xu, Yuwan Li, Jingcheng Rao, Ying Jin, Yushun Huang, Xing Xu, Yi Liu, Shoujin Tian

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

The adverse consequences of medial meniscus posterior root tears have become increasingly familiar to surgeons, and treatment strategies have become increasingly abundant. In this paper, the finite element gait analysis method was used to explore the differences in the biomechanical characteristics of the knee joint under different conditions.

Methods

Based on CT computed tomography and MR images, (I) an intact knee (IK) model with bone, cartilage, meniscus and main ligaments was established. Based on this model, the posterior root of the medial meniscus was resected, and (ii) the partial tear (PT) model, (iii) the entire radial tear (ERT) model, and (iv) the entire oblique tear (EOT) model were established according to the scope and degree of resection. Then, the (v) meniscus repair (MR) model and (vi) partial meniscectomy (PM) model were developed according to the operation method. The differences in stress, displacement and contact area among different models were evaluated under ISO gait loading conditions.

Results

Under gait loading, there was no significant difference in the maximum stress of the medial and lateral tibiofemoral joints among the six models. Compared with the medial tibiofemoral joint stress of the IK model, the stress of the PM model increased by 8.3%, while that of the MR model decreased by 18.9%; at the same time, the contact stress of the medial tibiofemoral joint of the ERT and EOT models increased by 17.9 and 25.3%, respectively. The displacement of the medial meniscus in the ERT and EOT models was significantly larger than that in the IK model (P < 0.05), and the tibial and femoral contact areas of these two models were lower than those of the IK model (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The integrity of the posterior root of the medial meniscus plays an important role in maintaining normal tibial-femoral joint contact mechanics. Partial meniscectomy is not beneficial for improving the tibial-thigh contact situation. Meniscal repair has a positive effect on restoring the normal biomechanical properties of the medial meniscus.

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Title: Biomechanical assessment of disease outcome in surgical interventions for medial meniscal posterior root tears: a finite element analysis
Authors: Zhi Xu
Yuwan Li
Jingcheng Rao
Ying Jin
Yushun Huang
Xing Xu
Yi Liu
Shoujin Tian
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-06069-z

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Biomechanical assessment of disease outcome in surgical interventions for medial meniscal posterior root tears: a finite element analysis

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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