ABSTRACT
This study aimed to compare medial compartment contact pressures in knees treated
with medial meniscal transplantation using either a bone plug or bone trough technique.
Peak pressure, mean pressure, and contact area of the medial compartment were determined
in 8 cadaveric specimens at 0° and 30° of flexion under a 1000-N load. Contact mechanics
were measured for the intact knee, after meniscec-tomy, and after medial meniscal
transplant with either a bone plug technique or a bone trough technique. Total medial
meniscectomy resulted in decreased contact area, increased medial contact pressure,
and increased medial peak contact pressure. When comparing meniscal transplant techniques
at both 0° and 30°, no significant difference (P < 0.05) was noted regarding contact mechanics after transplantation. The bone trough
technique shows similar contact mechanics to the double bone plug technique and maintains
the natural hoop stress of the meniscus during medial meniscal transplantation.
