Finite element analyses of repaired articular surfaces

The response to a compressive load of a repaired cartilage surface, consisting of full-thickness repair tissue adjacent to normal cartilage, was predicted by the u-p finite element method and compared to that of a normal cartilage surface under the same loading conditions. By individually varying the aggregate modulus, permeability and Poisson's ratio for the repair tissue, analyses were performed to assess the contributions of each to the changes in mechanical behaviour. In comparing the repaired to normal surfaces, the presence of a softer repair tissue resulted in increased axial and decreased radial deformations at any given time point, while a repaired surface with an increased permeability compressed more easily due to the increased fluid flow and caused equilibrium to occur sooner. For smaller Poisson's ratio, the axial deformation was not different from normal if the aggregate modulus was the same as normal; however, the radial expansion was reduced as the repair tissue experienced a larger volume change. These results indicate that the presence of repair tissue in a joint surface can have a strong influence on the mechanical behaviour of the surface.