Meniscus and cartilage exhibit distinct intra-tissue strain distributions under unconfined compression

To examine the functional behavior of the surface layer of the meniscus by investigating depth-varying compressive strains during unconfined compression.

Pairs of meniscus and articular cartilage explants (n=12) site-matched at the tibial surfaces were subjected to equilibrium unconfined compression at 5, 10, 15, and 20% compression under fluorescence imaging. Two-dimensional (2D) deformations were tracked using digital image correlation (DIC). For each specimen, local compressive engineering strains were determined in 200 microm layers through the depth of the tissue. In samples with sharp strain transitions, bilinear regressions were used to characterize the surface and interior tissue compressive responses.

Meniscus and cartilage exhibited distinct depth-dependent strain profiles during unconfined compression. All cartilage explants had elevated compressive engineering strains near the surface, consistent with previous reports. In contrast, half of the meniscus explants tested had substantially stiffer surface layers, as indicated by surface engineering strains that were ∼20% of the applied compression. In the remaining samples, surface and interior engineering strains were comparable. 2D Green's strain maps revealed highly heterogeneous compressive and shear strains throughout the meniscus explants. In cartilage, the maximum shear strain appeared to be localized at 100-250 microm beneath the articular surface.

Meniscus was characterized by highly heterogeneous strains during compression. In contrast to cartilage, which consistently had a compliant surface region, meniscal explants were either substantially stiffer near the surface or had comparable compressive stiffness through the depth. The relatively compliant interior may allow the meniscus to maintain a consistent surface contour while deforming during physiologic loading.