Changes in the loading of tibial articular cartilage following medial meniscectomy: a finite element analysis study

Depending on the location and extent of the meniscectomy, loading on the tibial articular cartilage alters. The main purpose of the present study was to analyze the loading on the tibial articular cartilage following medial meniscectomy performed in various location and extent, as well as in the healthy knee, via finite element analyses on the solid models.

Totally, 11 finite element solid models, including the reference model, were created to investigate the effect of location (anterior, posterior, longitudinal) and extent of meniscectomy (25, 50, 75, and 100 %) on loading of tibial articular cartilage.

Maximum equivalent stress of the tibial cartilage was measured 0.86 Megapascal in the reference model and increased approximately by 78 % in 25 % meniscectomy group, 177.9 % in 50 %, 473.8 % in 75 % meniscectomy group, and 752.6 % in total meniscectomy. When only the amount of meniscal tissue removed was considered ignoring the location of meniscectomy, no significant difference was found in the amount of tissue excised between 25 % meniscectomy and 50 % meniscectomy, as well as between 75 % meniscectomy and total meniscectomy.

In all meniscectomy models, the loadings on tibial articular cartilage increased. Except total meniscectomy, the highest impact was observed in longitudinal 75 % meniscectomy. During the surgical treatment, the contributions of menisci on load absorption by increasing the tibiofemoral contact area must be considered. In fact, the increase in the rate of loading on tibial articular cartilage depends on according to type and amount of meniscectomy.