BIOMECHANICS OF THE KNEE-JOINT AFTER MENISCUS RESECTION - ANALYSIS OF LOAD-BEARING IN CADAVER KNEES

Load bearing analysis has been performed in cadaver knees after different types of inner meniscus resection in extension and in 30 degrees and 60 degrees flexion. Contact areas, mean and maximum pressure differences and load flow changes were measured in the medial and lateral compartment of the knee. The investigation led to following findings: After posterior meniscal tear the resection of the tear with marginal smoothing is followed by a minimum of parameter deviation. All the other types of resection like simple tear resection, partial meniscus resection, amputation of the posterior horn or subtotal resection are accompanied by highly increased deviations of the measured biomechanical parameters. Those are not only observed in the medial part of the knee but also in the lateral compartment. At the medial site a decrease of the load bearing area and the pressure can be registered. In contrast to that there is an increase of these parameters at the lateral site. Consecutive osteoarthritis after medial meniscectomy is therefore interpreted not as a result of increased pressure but of a floating load bearing.