Biomechanical Changes Of Femorotibial Interface Post Meniscal Transplantation And Meniscal Matching Measurement

[Purpose] Along with the practice of meniscal transplantation, the changing of the femorotibial contact areas and the stress is not clear, and the method how to measure menisci, how can we get the same size of the donor and the receiver's, has not been confirmed. In order to make these questions clear, this project is brought out.[Materials and Methods] 21 adult Japanese rabbits were divided into 3 groups: normal group(RN), medial meniscal resection group(RMMR), medial meniscal transplantation group(RMMT), the femorotibial contact areas and the stress is measured in different flexion degrees, by LLW prescale Fuji film.7 fresh adult male human being knees were collected and indexes about meniscus were measured by X-ray, MRI, and biopsy. The femorotibial contact areas and the stress is measured in different flexion degrees, and mimicking 4 different conditions:normal(HN), meniscal rupture model(HMRM), meniscal resection (HMR), and meniscal transplantation(HMT). The data was analyzed via CHISS statistic software.[Results] In the ROM 0°-120°, the average medial femorotibial contact area of rabbit is as the following: RN,0.337±0.070 cm2; RMMR,0.142±0.030 cm2; RMMT,0.304±0.049 cm2. That of RMMR group is much smaller than that of the other two groups statistically, P<0.01. The medial femorotibial contact area is the smallest in 0°of knee flexion, and the biggest in 60°of knee flexion. The result of the stress of the medial femorotibial contact area is quite the contrary. To the human being, in the ROM 0°-120°, the average medial femorotibial contact area is as the following:HN,4.995±1.870 cm2; HMRM,4.465±1.969 cm2; HMR, 1.634±0.632 cm2; HMT,5.179±1.676 cm2. That of HMR group is much smaller than that of the other three groups statistically, P<0.01. The medial femorotibial contact area is the smallest in 120°of knee flexion, and the biggest in 0°of knee flexion. The result of the stress of the medial femorotibial contact area is quite the contrary. In all the meniscal related indexes, the coronal width of tibial plateau, the sagittal length of medial tibial plateau, the sagittal length of lateral tibial plateau, is stable and repeatable. The data measured by MRI is matching to that measured by biopsy, and the data measured by X-ray is a little larger.[Conclusion] The femorotibial contact area is significantly decreased with meniscectomy, and that can be enlarged to normal size via meniscal trans-plantation. The data of the coronal width of tibial plateau et al, measured via MRI, almost equal with that measured by biopsy, and should be recommended in clinical practice of meniscal transplantation.