Biomechanic effect of posterior cruciate ligament rupture on lateral meniscus

This study aims to investigate the biomechanical effect of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) rupture on lateral meniscus.

The stresses of anterior horn, caudomedial part and posterior horn of lateral meniscus in cadaveric knees were recorded when the knee joints were loaded 200 to 1000 N at 0, 30, 60 and 90° of flexion. Twelve knees were tested before PCL transection (intact group), and 6 each were then tested after anterolateral bundle (ALB group) and postmedial bundle (PMB group) transection. The same knees were finally tested after complete PCL transection.

At 0°of knee flexion, the stresses of the anterior horn, caudomedial part and posterior horn were negative and compressive, and were not significantly different between intact and ALB groups, and between completely transected and PMB groups at 200 and 400 N. The stresses of the anterior horn and caudomedial part were greater in completely transected and PMB groups than in intact and ALB groups. The stresses of the posterior horn were smaller in PMB and completely transected groups than in intact and ALB groups. At 600-1000 N, the stresses were significantly different between the groups. The absolute stresses of the anterior horn and caudomedial part were in order of completely transected > PMB > ALB > intact group, while these of the posterior horn were reversed. At 30° of knee flexion, the stresses of the three parts were not significantly different between intact and PMB groups nor between completely transected and ALB groups at 200 and 400 N. The stresses in the anterior horn and caudomedial part were negative and different between completely transected and ALB groups, and positive and different between intact and PMB groups. The stresses in the posterior horn were positive and different between completely transected and ALB groups, and negative and different between intact and PMB groups. At loads of > 600 N, the stresses in the anterior horn and caudomedial part were negative in completely transected and ALB groups, and positive in intact and PMB groups. The stresses of the posterior horn were positive in completely transected and ALB groups and negative in intact and PMB groups, with significant difference between the groups. At 60° and 90° of flexion, the stresses of the anterior horn and caudomedial part were positive in completely transected and ALB groups and positive in intact and PMB groups, while the stresses of posterior horn were in the opposite directions and were significantly different between the groups at the same loads.

Complete transection of PCL will result in stress changes in various parts of lateral meniscus. At 200 and 400 N, transection of ALB and PMB do not change the stress at 0° and 30° of flexion, respectively. At heavier loads (600-1000 N), the stresses at these angels are affected in ALB and PMB groups. At all loaded tested, transection of ALB and PMB results in changed stresses in all regions of lateral meniscus at 30-90° and 0-90° of flexion, respectively.