Objective Cartilage regeneration is multifactorial. This study aimed to optimize the biomechanical factor of weightbearing loading allowing for cartilage regeneration and elucidate the association between cartilage regeneration and clinical outcomes after medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO). Design This was a retrospective, observational study of 142 patients who underwent OWHTO and subsequently underwent second-look arthroscopic assessment at a single orthopedic surgery center in Japan. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were compared between patients with (group R) and without (group D) cartilage regeneration, measured using the International Cartilage Repair Society grading system and the macroscopic staging system at the time second-look arthroscopy was performed. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal weightbearing line ratio (WBLR) for cartilage regeneration. Results Group R included 82 knees, and group D 60 knees. The WBLR was higher in group R (60.9% ± 6.7%) than in group D (55.6% ± 7.6%) ( P < 0.001) and was associated with a greater improvement in clinical outcomes, namely the Lysholm scale score and all subscales of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score ( P < 0.01). The WBLR predicted cartilage regeneration with an odds ratio of 1.11 ( P = 0.001) and an area under the curve of 0.718, for a WBLR value of 62%. Conclusions A WBLR of 62% was associated with cartilage regeneration after OWHTO and high patient-reported clinical outcomes.
This study aimed to investigate the appropriate size of scaffold implantation on stress distribution and evaluate its mechanical and biomechanical properties considering hydrolysis. The meniscus acts as a load distribution in the knee, and its biomechanical properties are essential for the development of the PGA scaffold. We established a novel meniscal scaffold, which consists of polyglycolic acid (PGA) covered with L-lactide-ε-caprolactone copolymer (P[LA/CL]). After 4 weeks of hydrolysis, the scaffold had a 7% volume reduction compared to the initial volume. In biomechanical tests, the implantation of scaffolds 20% larger than the circumferential and vertical defect size results in greater contact stress than the intact meniscus. In the mechanical evaluation associated with the decomposition behavior, the strength decreased after 4 weeks of hydrolysis. Meanwhile, in the biomechanical test considering hydrolysis, contact stress and area equivalent to intact were obtained after 4 weeks of hydrolysis. In conclusion, the implantation of the PGA scaffold might be a useful alternative to partial meniscectomy in terms of mechanical properties, and the PGA scaffold should be implanted up to 20% of the defect size.
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