Meniscal transection rather than excision increases pain behavior and structural damage in experimental osteoarthritis in mice.

Objective: To evaluate pain behavior and structural damage in mice subjected to either meniscal transection or removal.

Methods: Mice (10/group) were subjected to transection of the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLT/MCLT) followed by either transection (meniscotomy) or removal (meniscectomy) of the medial meniscus. A control group was subjected only to transection of the ligaments.