Recently many investigations have been established to find the mechanism of osteoarthritic changes after menisectomy. Among them. Alteration of mechanical factor which results in stress concentration, is now thought to be one of the most
important
cause of development of osteoarthritis. But few of experimental study has reported about the differences of change in contact area and pressure distribution pattern after partial and total menisectomy. By using the pressure-sensitive film
(Pressensor),
we could calculate the contact area and its patterns of distribution on three different situations, intact meniscus, partial menisectomy and total menisectomy.
@ES Materials and Method
@EN 1. Experimental materials were 5 above-knee amputated stumps with knee joint. During experiments, knee joint was being at full extended position, fixed to the Instron machine by aluminium box and mounting resin.
2. By Instron machine loading was transmitted to the tibiofemoral joint and preinserted Pressensor film within physiologic limit. Analysis of the contact area at each condition(intact meniscus, partial and total menisectomy) was done by
reviewing
the
film.
@ES Results
@EN 1. By measuring the contact area after menisectomy, we showed that the menisci preforms load tansmitting and energy-absorbing function in the knee joint.
2. Comparing the medial joint contact area with the lateral one in intact meniscus, the fromer always occupied a larger area than the latter(the ratio of medial contact area to lateral was 1.36), but in partial and total menisectomy the
difference
between them gradually decreased.
3. There was minor decrease in contact area after partial menisectomy and much more decrease after total menisectomy.
4. The degree of stress concentration in contact area was increased with the sequence of intact meniscus, partial and total menisectomy.
5. There shows little change of contact area in the opposite side after partial menisectomy, but distinctive changes after total menisectomy.
|