gms | German Medical Science

54. Jahrestagung der Norddeutschen Orthopädenvereinigung e. V.

Norddeutsche Orthopädenvereinigung

16.06. bis 18.06.2005, Hamburg

Measurement of the tibiofemoral contact area in a chronic meniscectomized ovine model with an electronic resistive pressure measuring sensor

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author G. von Lewinski - Orthopädische Klinik, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Orthopädische Klinik, Hannover
  • C. Stukenborg-Colsman - Hannover
  • S. Ostermeier - Hannover
  • C. Hurschler - Hannover

Norddeutsche Orthopädenvereinigung. 54. Jahrestagung der Norddeutschen Orthopädenvereinigung e.V.. Hamburg, 16.-18.06.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. Doc05novK1.05

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/nov2005/05nov002.shtml

Published: June 13, 2005

© 2005 von Lewinski et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Introduction

The primary roles of the menisci are to act as load distributors and shock absorbers within the knee. While tibiofemoral contact mechanics within the human knee has been measured several times less is known about the biomechanical effect of meniscectomy in relatively smaller animals. Aim of the study was thus to quantify the effect of chronic meniscectomy in an ovine model.

Material and Methods

Twelve sheep were divided into two groups (n=6): - group A was the sham group; in group B a medial meniscectomy was performed. After six months the animals were sacrificed. The lower limb specimen were placed in a material testing machine in 30°, 60° and 90° of flexion and loaded through the femoral axis to 500N. For determining contact area and pressure a thin pressure transducer (Tekscan®) was positioned underneath the meniscus. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test.

Results

Contact area and peak contact pressure showed significant differences between the meniscectomized knees and the knees with the intact meniscus (p<0.05). Reductions of 53.2 %, 56.9% and 53.5% in contact area of meniscectomized knees were observed relative to the sham control group at 30°, 60° and 90° of flexion. Peak contact pressure showed an average increase of 260.4% for the meniscectomized compared to the intact knees.

Discussion

Measurement of the tibiofemoral contact mechanics is possible with electronic pressure measuring sensors even in relatively smaller animals. The values fit into the range of the biomechanical studies with human cadaveric knees.