Meniscus Injury and its Surgical Treatment Does not Increase Initial Whole Knee Joint Friction.

While it is generally accepted that traumatic meniscus pathologies lead to degenerative articular cartilage changes in the mid-to long-term and consecutively to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), very little is known about how such injuries initiate tribological changes within the knee and their possible impact on PTOA acceleration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of three different medial meniscus states (intact, posterior root tear, total meniscectomy) on the initial whole knee joint friction. Six ovine knee joints were tested in a passive pendulum friction testing device under an axial load of 250 N and an initial deflection of 12°, representing swing phase conditions, and under an axial load of 1000 N and an initial deflection of 5°, simulating stance phase conditions.

Influence of Menisci on Tibiofemoral Contact Mechanics in Human Knees: A Systematic Review.

Menisci transfer axial loads, while increasing the load-bearing tibiofemoral contact area and decreasing tibiofemoral contact pressure (CP). Numerous clinical and experimental studies agree that an increased CP is one predominant indicator for post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) of the knee joint. However, due to the immense variability in experimental test setups and wide range of treatment possibilities in meniscus surgery, it is difficult to objectively assess their impact on the CP determination, which is clearly crucial for knee joint health.

Forces at the Anterior Meniscus Attachments Strongly Increase Under Dynamic Knee Joint Loading.

Background: The anatomic appearance and biomechanical and clinical importance of the anterior meniscus roots are well described. However, little is known about the loads that act on these attachment structures under physiological joint loads and movements.

Hypotheses: As compared with uniaxial loading conditions under static knee flexion angles or at very low flexion-extension speeds, more realistic continuous movement simulations in combination with physiological muscle force simulations lead to significantly higher anterior meniscus attachment forces.

The effect of knee brace misalignment on the anterior cruciate ligament: An experimental study.

Background: Protective knee braces are used for rehabilitation or prevention. Due to poor patient compliance or slippage, the brace might be misaligned with the knee axis.

Objectives: Does a misaligned knee brace stress the anterior cruciate ligament?

Study Design: It is an experimental study.

Do Prophylactic Knee Braces Protect the Knee Against Impacts or Tibial Moments? An In Vitro Multisensory Study.

Background: Knee braces are prescribed by physicians to protect the knee from various loading conditions during sports or after surgery, even though the effect of bracing for various loading scenarios remains unclear.

Purpose: To extensively investigate whether bracing protects the knee against impacts from the lateral, medial, anterior, or posterior directions at different heights as well as against tibial moments.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Comparison of three-dimensional helical axes of the cervical spine between in vitro and in vivo testing.

Background Context: The range of motion is a well-accepted parameter for the assessment and evaluation of cervical motion. However, more qualitative data of the kinematics of the cervical spine are needed for the development and success of cervical disc arthroplasty.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide basic information about helical axes of human cervical spine under in vitro conditions.

The influence of the test setup on knee joint kinematics - A meta-analysis of tibial rotation.

The human knee is one of the most investigated joints in the human body. Various test setups exist to measure and analyse knee kinematics in vitro which differ in a wide range of parameters. The purpose of this article is to find an answer to the question if the test setup influences the kinematic outcome of studies and to what extend the results can be compared.