Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial Meniscus
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major ligament in the knee joint, and its function is crucial for both the movement and stability of the knee. Our research takes a novel approach by investigating the effect of meniscus tears on the ACL, how such tears will impact the stress on the ACL, and...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Bioengineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/1/74 |
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| author | Angela Hussain Muffaddal Madraswala Jason Koh Farid Amirouche |
| author_facet | Angela Hussain Muffaddal Madraswala Jason Koh Farid Amirouche |
| author_sort | Angela Hussain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major ligament in the knee joint, and its function is crucial for both the movement and stability of the knee. Our research takes a novel approach by investigating the effect of meniscus tears on the ACL, how such tears will impact the stress on the ACL, and its overall compensation in response to the changes in the meniscus. <b>Hypothesis/Purpose</b>: This study aims to investigate how the ACL compensates for the change in knee joint stability and contact pressures due to partial horizontal cleavage tears (HCTs) in the meniscus, such as partial meniscectomy and partial transplantation on knee joint stability and contact pressures. We hypothesize that HCTs will increase contact pressures and decrease joint stability, thereby inducing compensatory stress on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). <b>Method</b>: Seven freshly frozen human cadaveric knees were used in a study to investigate the effects of different meniscal conditions and surgical interventions on the meniscus itself. Four testing scenarios were established: intact knees, knees with partial horizontal cleavage tears (HCTs) of the meniscus, knees with partial meniscectomy, and knees with partial transplantation. Axial loading was applied, and the medial meniscus contact pressures were measured at 0° and 30° of flexion. Additionally, a mathematical 3D finite element model was created to evaluate the behavior of the ACL under different meniscus scenarios, which could not have been measured experimentally. <b>Results</b>: ACL contact pressure and stress analysis across various meniscal conditions demonstrated substantial variability. Horizontal cleavage tears (HCTs) resulted in heightened contact pressures and diminished joint stability, as evidenced by increased ACL stress attributed to compensatory mechanisms in the presence of meniscal tears. Conversely, transplantation procedures exhibited a mitigating effect, maintaining joint mechanics closer to intact conditions and minimizing alterations in ACL forces. These trends persisted at 30 degrees of knee flexion, where significant increases in ACL forces were observed in partial and complete HCT conditions. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study uncovers the biomechanical impacts of meniscal injuries, demonstrating how the ACL compensates for various meniscus conditions. In contrast, transplantation and repair conditions only slightly increase the stress on the ACL, putting much less strain on the ACL and supporting structures of the knee joint than an unrepaired tear. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b86f10689d5440c1aff4e8d12f282ffc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2306-5354 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-b86f10689d5440c1aff4e8d12f282ffc2025-01-24T13:23:10ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542025-01-011217410.3390/bioengineering12010074Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial MeniscusAngela Hussain0Muffaddal Madraswala1Jason Koh2Farid Amirouche3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7342, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7342, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic and Spine Institute, Northshore University Health System, An Affiliate of the Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, 9669 Kenton Avenue, Skokie, IL 60076, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7342, USAThe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major ligament in the knee joint, and its function is crucial for both the movement and stability of the knee. Our research takes a novel approach by investigating the effect of meniscus tears on the ACL, how such tears will impact the stress on the ACL, and its overall compensation in response to the changes in the meniscus. <b>Hypothesis/Purpose</b>: This study aims to investigate how the ACL compensates for the change in knee joint stability and contact pressures due to partial horizontal cleavage tears (HCTs) in the meniscus, such as partial meniscectomy and partial transplantation on knee joint stability and contact pressures. We hypothesize that HCTs will increase contact pressures and decrease joint stability, thereby inducing compensatory stress on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). <b>Method</b>: Seven freshly frozen human cadaveric knees were used in a study to investigate the effects of different meniscal conditions and surgical interventions on the meniscus itself. Four testing scenarios were established: intact knees, knees with partial horizontal cleavage tears (HCTs) of the meniscus, knees with partial meniscectomy, and knees with partial transplantation. Axial loading was applied, and the medial meniscus contact pressures were measured at 0° and 30° of flexion. Additionally, a mathematical 3D finite element model was created to evaluate the behavior of the ACL under different meniscus scenarios, which could not have been measured experimentally. <b>Results</b>: ACL contact pressure and stress analysis across various meniscal conditions demonstrated substantial variability. Horizontal cleavage tears (HCTs) resulted in heightened contact pressures and diminished joint stability, as evidenced by increased ACL stress attributed to compensatory mechanisms in the presence of meniscal tears. Conversely, transplantation procedures exhibited a mitigating effect, maintaining joint mechanics closer to intact conditions and minimizing alterations in ACL forces. These trends persisted at 30 degrees of knee flexion, where significant increases in ACL forces were observed in partial and complete HCT conditions. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study uncovers the biomechanical impacts of meniscal injuries, demonstrating how the ACL compensates for various meniscus conditions. In contrast, transplantation and repair conditions only slightly increase the stress on the ACL, putting much less strain on the ACL and supporting structures of the knee joint than an unrepaired tear.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/1/74ACLmeniscusknee ligamentknee stability |
| spellingShingle | Angela Hussain Muffaddal Madraswala Jason Koh Farid Amirouche Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial Meniscus Bioengineering ACL meniscus knee ligament knee stability |
| title | Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial Meniscus |
| title_full | Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial Meniscus |
| title_fullStr | Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial Meniscus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial Meniscus |
| title_short | Anterior Cruciate Ligament Mechanical Response to Load in the Setting of Changes to the Medial Meniscus |
| title_sort | anterior cruciate ligament mechanical response to load in the setting of changes to the medial meniscus |
| topic | ACL meniscus knee ligament knee stability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/1/74 |
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