Knee joint biomechanics following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy

Abstract

We investigated spatiotemporal data, joint kinematics, and joint kinetics during gait in a group of subjects who had recently undergone arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and compared the results to those of healthy controls. Gait analysis was performed on 105 pain-free meniscectomy patients and 47 controls, walking at a self-selected speed. The meniscectomy population was comparable to controls in spatiotemporal parameters and knee kinematics. However, they had reduced range of motion (ROM) and lower peak moments in the sagittal plane on the operated limb compared to the nonoperated limb. Compared to controls, the meniscectomy patients had significantly larger knee adduction moments over stance, even after accounting for their greater body weight. These differences likely increase articular loads on the medial compartment of the tibiofemoral joint and may contribute to the high risk of knee osteoarthritis following arthroscopic meniscal surgery. ß

Medial knee joint loading during stair ambulation and walking while carrying loads

“…For example, persons post-meniscectomy are at increased risk of developing knee OA [13]. A large cross-sectional study of individuals post-APM found an 11% increase in peak KAM during walking when compared with healthy matched controls [14]. It is widely believed this elevated peak KAM contributes to the onset of knee OA in this population.…”

The relationship between patellofemoral and tibiofemoral morphology and gait biomechanics following arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy

“…25 The results from this study suggest that interventions targeting gait biomechanics 1 following APMM may result in improved patient outcomes. Interventions such 2 as gait retraining [18,31], valgus thrust braces [19,29], modified footwear [14] 3 and lateral wedge insoles [15,16] have been shown to reduce knee adduction 4 moments. These may reduce the risk of the APMM patients developing medial 5 tibiofemoral osteoarthritis osteoarthritis, which should be the focus of future 6 studies.…”

Damage and degenerative changes in menisci‐covered and exposed tibial osteochondral regions after simulated landing impact compression—a porcine study

“…Our findings have shown that these regions were not only susceptible to impact-induced damage, they were also more inclined towards post-traumatic degeneration. Apart from the altered knee joint biomechanics arising from meniscectomy, 37 the inferior resistance of menisci-covered regions, against impact-induced damage and degeneration, is a potential factor that may contribute in part to the meniscectomy model of OA.…”