The effect of meniscus compression on the biomechanical properties of repaired meniscal lesions. Winner of the AGA-DonJoy Award 2003.

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of meniscus compression, as it occurs with weight-bearing, on the biomechanical behavior of different repair types.

Materials And Methods: Young human meniscal tissue specimens were fitted with a single Bionx Arrow, a Innovasive Meniscal Screw, or a vertical suture (Ethibond 2-0) according to standard clinical practice. Test specimens then underwent repetitive loading with 10 N under 1 N pretension up to a maximum of 1182 cycles and were finally loaded to failure. Half of the cases in each group were additionally subjected to synchronized intermittent compression during the test. The main variables investigated were the number of cycles survived and ultimate failure load. To reduce the complexity, investigations were limited to the peripheral repair site.

Results: The number of cycles survived was significantly affected by compression and the type of repair. Arrows and Screws survived 311 and 52 cycles, respectively, without compression, while 983 and 1182 cycles were survived with added compression. In the suture group, no premature failure occurred either with or without compression. Both compression and the type of repair had a significant effect on the ultimate failure load. It increased about twofold in the Arrow and Screw group, while the suture group was not affected.

Conclusions: Compression of the meniscus can substantially increase the pullout resistance of meniscal repair implants and thus seems not to be a factor negatively influencing the stability of the repair.